The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved two major railway infrastructure projects with a combined investment of Rs 64.05 billion. These projects aim to strengthen connectivity and freight movement across key states while supporting the government’s multi-modal logistics strategy.

The approved projects include the 133-kilometre Koderma–Barkakana doubling in Jharkhand and the 185-kilometre Ballari–Chikjajur doubling, spanning Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Together, they will expand the Indian Railways network by 318 kilometres and improve access to approximately 1,408 villages, home to over 2.8 million people.

The Koderma–Barkakana section cuts through a prominent coal-producing region and forms the most efficient rail link between Patna and Ranchi. The Ballari–Chikjajur line, covering districts in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, will significantly decongest existing routes and improve operational efficiency.

These capacity augmentation works are expected to support an additional 49 million tonnes per annum of freight traffic, critical for transporting coal, iron ore, cement, fertilisers, petroleum products and agricultural goods. The initiatives are part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, designed to foster integrated, seamless connectivity for people and goods across India.

The environmental impact is also notable—Indian Railways, being a green and energy-efficient transport mode, will help the country reduce oil imports by an estimated 520 million litres and cut CO₂ emissions by around 2.64 billion kilograms. This is equivalent to planting approximately 110 million trees.

These projects also align with the government’s vision of building an “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) by generating local employment, encouraging self-employment, and promoting inclusive regional development.