The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved five infrastructure projects worth a total of ₹13,041 crore, including four railway multitracking projects worth ₹9,450 crore connecting Chennai to Howrah across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. According to an official statement, these projects are scheduled to be completed by 2030-31 and will add about 410 km to the existing railway network while covering eight districts. The Cabinet decisions, approved under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are expected to improve logistics efficiency, regional connectivity and movement of goods and passengers. As reported by Business Standard, the expansion comes as the Railways seeks to add capacity on routes that carry both passengers and freight.
The approved projects include the 173-km fourth line between Kharagpur and Bhadrak (Ranital) at ₹3,352 crore; the 75-km fourth line between Bhadrak and Haridaspur in Odisha at ₹1,583 crore; the 90-km third and fourth lines between Gummidipundi and Gudur in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu at ₹2,229 crore; and the 72-km third and fourth lines between Cuttack and Paradeep (Badabandha) in Odisha at ₹2,286 crore. As reported by the government, the Kharagpur–Bhadrak section runs via Balashwar and down to Rupsa, after Rupsa, down to Bhadrak, with the entire route running along the coast of Odisha. The projects are expected to ease congestion, improve passenger and freight movement and enhance connectivity to nearly 6,448 villages with a combined population of around 60 lakh. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that two mega, 41 major and 169 minor bridges will be built for the 173-km project, with the route passing completely along the coast of Odisha.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the strategic importance of the Kharagpur–Bhadrak section, stating that "we are now making this section between Kharagpur and Bhadrak a four-line corridor" at a Cabinet briefing. According to Vaishnaw, the Howrah-Chennai route is one of the country's key railway main lines, with Projects 1, 2 and 3 being on the Howrah-Chennai line, while Project 4 is on the Paradip-Cuttack section. "From Howrah to Chennai, we will ultimately have a complete quadrupled, four-line route. This will allow us to operate many more trains. It will also facilitate the movement of cargo and make maintenance easier," Vaishnaw explained. The minister noted that work on the third line on the Bhadrak–Haridaspur section is already progressing rapidly and in several places it has already been completed. The four projects will substantially augment line capacity, streamline train operations and reduce congestion, while improving operational efficiency and reliability of railway services.
The capacity augmentation is expected to generate additional freight traffic of about 76 million tonnes per annum, as reported by the government. The projects are planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, with a focus on improving multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency through integrated planning. According to the government statement, shifting more freight to rail, an energy-efficient mode of transport, is expected to help reduce logistics costs and oil imports by around 13 crore litres, while lowering carbon dioxide emissions by about 65 crore kg. The reduction in emissions has been equated to the environmental benefit of planting around 2.6 crore trees. The routes are important for the transportation of coal, iron ore, cement, iron and steel, containers, automobiles and foodgrains. As per Business Standard, the projects are estimated to help reduce oil imports by around 13 crore litres and cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 65 crore kg, with the enhanced railway capacity supporting the country's environmental objectives.
Besides strengthening economic connectivity, the projects are expected to give a boost to tourism by improving access to prominent destinations. In Odisha, the improved railway network will strengthen connectivity to tourist and heritage destinations including Bhitarkanika National Park, Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Maa Bhadrakali Temple, Maa Dhamarai Temple, Panchalingeswar Temple, Talsari-Udaypur and Chandipur beaches, Gada Kujanga Jagannath Temple, Sarala Temple, Dhabaleswar Temple and Lalitgiri. The wider network will also improve access to tourist attractions such as Pulicat Lake on the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh and the Lord Veeraraghava Perumal Temple in Tamil Nadu. The projects assume added importance for Odisha as they strengthen rail links to its mineral-rich hinterland, industrial centres and ports. The Cuttack-Paradip corridor, in particular, is expected to provide greater capacity towards one of the state's strategically important ports, while the Bhadrak-Haridaspur and Kharagpur-Bhadrak corridors will further strengthen connectivity along the state's northern and coastal belts.
