Cabinet approvals have cleared eight multi?tracking railway projects worth Rs 208.04 billion (bn) aimed at easing congestion and boosting capacity across nine states. The projects will add nearly 1,200 km of tracks and cover 31 districts in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, improving connectivity to nearly 6,900 villages with a combined population of about 10.8 million (mn). The figure for total investment is converted from Rs 20,804 crore into billion for clarity, with billion abbreviated as bn and million as mn.

The package is split into two sets. The first set comprises three projects covering 656 km at an estimated cost of Rs 107.83 bn, including fourth?line works on the Kharagpur–Jharsuguda and Katni–Pendra Road corridors and a third line between Bilaspur (Uslapur) and Pendra Road. The second set comprises five projects covering roughly 540 km at an estimated cost of Rs 100.21 bn, including multi?tracking and doubling works such as the Arakkonam–Renigunta lines (77 km), Whitefield–Bangarapet (47 km), Hosur–Omalur doubling (147 km), Salem–Karur–Dindigul doubling (159 km) and Secunderabad (Ghatkesar)–Kazipet multi?tracking (110 km).

Officials indicated that the works are intended to increase line capacity on freight?intensive corridors and improve operational efficiency by reducing bottlenecks. The government estimated additional freight?handling capacity of about 74 million (mn) tonnes per annum (t per annum), with eastern and central corridors enabling around 27 mn t and the southern projects supporting about 47 mn t, and said all projects are scheduled for completion by 2029-30 under the PM Gati Shakti plan. The projects were described as prioritising integrated planning and multi?modal connectivity to enhance scheduling flexibility for passenger and freight services.

The approvals are expected to lower logistics costs by shifting traffic from road to rail, boost regional economic activity and support employment by improving market access. The government provided environmental estimates that the shift will save around 200 million litres and cut carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1,040 million kg, equivalent to the carbon absorption of about 45 million trees. Authorities indicated that improved access will also support tourism and strengthen supply chains in mineral and industrial belts.