Centre Clears Rs 64 Billion Rail Projects for 3 States

17 Jun 2025 CW Team

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two major railway infrastructure projects worth Rs 64.05 billion, aimed at boosting connectivity and freight movement across Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Announced by the Prime Minister on platform X, the projects include the doubling of the 133 km Koderma–Barkakana line in Jharkhand and the 185 km Ballari–Chikjajur line across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Together, they will expand the Indian Railways network by 318 km, serving approximately 1,408 villages with a combined population of over 2.8 million.

“These vital projects will enhance connectivity, promote commerce and support sustainability,” PM Modi stated.

The Koderma–Barkakana route traverses key coal-producing regions and forms the shortest rail link between Patna and Ranchi, while the Ballari–Chikjajur section connects industrial and mining belts, facilitating movement of coal, iron ore, cement and steel.

The government projects these upgrades will enable an additional 49 million tonnes of freight annually.

Part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects are designed to lower logistics costs and environmental impact. The Ministry estimates a reduction of 520 million litres in annual oil imports and carbon emissions by 2.64 billion kilograms, which is equivalent to planting 110 million trees.

The new lines will also enhance service reliability and create both employment and self-employment opportunities across the regions.

Launched in 2021, Gati Shakti aims to bring together ministries including railways, roads, ports, power and telecom on a single digital platform for integrated infrastructure development. The goal is to streamline logistics, reduce costs and delays, and ensure seamless multimodal connectivity to strengthen India’s economic competitiveness globally.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Aug 2026

Surya Roshni delivers customised lighting for NCRTC RRTS stations

Surya Roshni has supplied customised indoor lighting solutions for 18 elevated stations on the National Capital Region Transport Corporation's (NCRTC) Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS), strengthening its presence in India's infrastructure lighting segment.The project involved the design and deployment of lighting systems for platforms, concourses, foot overbridges (FOBs) and back-of-house (BOH) areas. According to the company, the luminaires were developed specifically to meet NCRTC's design, operational and performance requirements rather than using standard products.Surya introduced two custo..

Hilton debuts Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam

Hilton has opened NHAAN Resort & Spa Hoi An, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the debut of the Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam and expanding its lifestyle hospitality portfolio in Southeast Asia.Located along the Co Co River in Cam Thanh village, the 174-key resort provides access to Hoi An Ancient Town, Cua Dai Beach and the Cam Thanh Nipa Forest. The property has been designed by Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia, incorporating biophilic architecture, locally sourced materials and riverfront landscapes.The resort offers a mix of guest rooms and suites, including family-frien..

Electrent expands lithium energy storage system portfolio

Electrent Energy has expanded its lithium-based energy storage portfolio with the launch of the ESS 850 and ESS 1050, targeting compact and maintenance-free power backup solutions for Indian homes.The new systems integrate a Home UPS and a LiFePO4 lithium battery into a single unit, extending the company's product range following the launch of its ESS 1350 and ESS 2500 models.Designed for apartments and smaller homes, the ESS 850 provides up to 1 hour 15 minutes of backup, while the ESS 1050 offers up to 1 hour 45 minutes on a typical 400 W household load. The systems can power essential appli..