Centre Clears Rs 186 Bn Railway Projects Across 3 States

09 Apr 2025 CW Team

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given it approval for four major multitracking railway projects. These projects, worth approximately Rs 186.6 billion, are expected to enhance India’s railway system by improving mobility of goods and services, reducing congestion in passenger freights, and upgrading infrastructure, thereby allowing it to match global standards.

The railways will add 19 stations and 1247 km to the current railway network, which will connect 15 districts across Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. Alongside an increase in transport capabilities, the project aims to increase employment and industrial growth in these regions, both through increased demand for labour and by connecting industrial hubs.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the project will be beneficial to the environment and India’s sustainability goals, as it will help reduce reliance on oil imports and reduce CO? emissions. This, he said, “is equivalent to the planting of 190 million trees”.

The projects include: • Sambalpur – Jarapda 3rd and 4th Line • Jharsuguda – Sason 3rd and 4th Line • Kharsia – Naya Raipur – Parmalkasa 5th and 6th Line • Gondia – Balharshah doubling

Infrastructure Urban

13 Mar 2026

Implementation Status of Jal Jeevan Mission

Since August 2019 the Government has implemented Jal Jeevan Mission to provide assured potable water through household tap connections in rural India. At the start of the mission only 32.3 million (mn) rural households, representing 16.7 per cent, were reported to have tap water connections. States and union territories have reported that 125.8 mn additional rural households have since been provided with tap connections. As a result, of about 193.6 mn rural households roughly 158.2 mn, or 81.71 per cent, are reported to have tap water supply at home.\n\nThe State, district and village level st..

Jal Jeevan Mission Reaches Eighty One Per Cent Rural Coverage

The Government reported substantial progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in August 2019 to provide tap water to every rural household. At launch only 32.3 million (mn) rural households had tap connections and states and Union territories reported provision of 125.8 mn additional households by March 2026. Consequently, out of about 193.6 mn rural households around 158.2 mn, or 81.71 per cent, are reported to have tap water at home. The Finance Minister announced extension of the mission until 2028 in the 2025-26 budget speech. The Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen, launched in October 20..

Empowering Local Governance for Sustainable Rural Water Supply

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has aligned the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) with the 73rd Amendment to strengthen village level planning and community ownership of water supply. Gram Panchayats, village water and sanitation committees and Pani Samitis are to plan, implement, manage and maintain piped water systems, with gram sabha processes formalising handover and oversight. Implementation support agencies including non government organisations, community based organisations and self help groups have been empanelled to train local committees and promote women participation. Under JJM, the department ..