The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved eight rail projects for capacity augmentation at a total investment of approximately ₹ 20804 crore.
These projects include:
- Kharagpur – Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) 4th Line-367 km
- Bilaspur (Uslapur) – Pendra Road 3rd Line- 87 km
- Katni – Pendra Road 4th Line -201 km
- Arakkonam – Renigunta 3rd and 4th Line – 77 km
- Secunderabad (Ghatkesar) – Kazipet 3rd and 4th line – 110 km
- Whitefield – Bangarapet 3rd and 4th Line – 47 kms
- Hosur – Omalur Doubling – 147 km
- Salem – Karur – Dindigul Doubling – 159 km
These eight projects will increase IR’s existing network of Indian Railways by about 1196 km and will be funded through Gross Budgetary Support. The projects will improve connectivity to 6911 villages having approximately 1.08 crore people. The capacity augmentation will result in additional freight traffic of 74 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum) and reduce oil import by ~20 crore litres. A detailed account of these projects is as follows:
Kharagpur – Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) 4th line (367 km,
₹6528 crore)
Kharagpur – Bagdehi Section is part of the Howrah–Mumbai route.
Line capacity utilization – 118 per cent
Route Length – 367 km
Investment outlay – ₹6528 crore
Project duration – 4 years
Benefits
Additional Traffic – 13.19 MTPA
Logistics cost savings per annum – ₹967.91 crore
Employment Generation – 125 lakh human-days
The project will ease cargo movement from Haldia and Paradip ports and improve the conveyance of coal, iron ore and steel. It will improve access to Taratarini Temple and Shri Khetra Jagannath Temple (near Jharsuguda) .
Bilaspur (Uslapur) – Pendra Road 3rd Line (87 km,
₹ 1279 crore)
Bilaspur (Uslapur) – Pendra Road section is part of the Bilaspur–Anuppur. It is a double-line section, except Kargi Road – Salka Road (8.06 km), where third line work is under way.
Line capacity utilization- 111 per cent
Route Length- 87 km
Investment outlay – ₹ 1279 crore
Project duration- 4 years
Benefits
Additional Traffic – 5.50 MTPA
Logistic cost savings per annum- ₹96.2 crore
Employment Generation- 30 lakh human-days
The project will facilitate transportation of steel and cement from Raipur/Bhilai region to Northern India. It will also enable carrying coal to power plants in Northern and Western India. It will improve access to Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, Amarkantak, Khutaghat Dam, Malhar Archaeological Site and Ratanpur Mahamaya Temple.
Katni – Pendra Road 4th line (201 km, ₹ 2975 crore)
Katni – Pendra Road is a triple line section excluding 6.62-km Shahdol – Singhpur section where fourth line works are in progress.
Line capacity utilization- 95 per cent
Route Length- 201 km
Investment outlay – ₹ 2975 crore
Project duration- 4 years
Benefits
Additional Traffic- 8 MTPA
Logistic cost saving per annum – ₹322 crore
Employment Generation – 68 lakh human-days
The line will carry coal from Korba, Gevra, Dipka, Kusmunda and Chirimiri to major thermal power plants in Northern and Western India. It will improve access to Amarkantak, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Virateshwar Temple and Jwaleshwar Dham.
Arakkonam – Renigunta 3rd and 4th line (77 km, ₹ 1936 crore)
Arakkonam – Renigunta is part of Mumbai – Chennai route and is one of India’s busiest passenger corridors due to Renugunta’s proximity to Tirupati.
Line capacity utilization – 120 per cent
Route Length – 77 km with 12 major bridges and 221 minor bridges
Investment outlay – ₹ 1936 crore
Project duration- 3 years
Benefits
Additional freight traffic – 7.21 MTPA
Logistic cost savings per annum- ₹110 crore
Employment Generation – 52 lakh human-days
The line connects Kudgi and Rayalaseema power plants to Ennore Port. It also connects small industries- SIDCO Tiruvallur, SIPCOT,Ranipet – and cement plants near Arakkonam.
Secunderabad (Ghatkesar)- Kazipet 3rd and 4th line (110 km, ₹ 2419 crore)
Secunderabad – Kazipet is an existing double line section and part of Wadi – Secunderabad – Kazipet route used by daily commuters.
Line capacity utilization -120 per cent
Route Length- 110 km with 17 major bridges and 151 minor bridges
Investment outlay- ₹2419 crore
Project duration- 4 Years
Benefits
Additional freight traffic – 9.83 MTPA
Logistic cost savings per annum -₹ 217 crore
Employment Generation-75 lakh human-days
The line connects Kudgi and Rayalaseema power plants to Ennore Port. It carries cement from Motumari–Vishnupuram and Wadi–Tandur clusters, iron ore from Balharshah, Manikgarh and Gadchiroli to Karnataka’s steel industries. It also conveys coal from Singareni and Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) to thermal power plants located at Hotgi, Kudgi, Yadlapur, Bellary and Yermaras.
Whitefield – Bangarapet 3rd and 4th line (47 km, ₹1476 crore)
Whitefield – Bangarapet section is part of Bengaluru – Chennai route.
Line Capacity Utilisation – 105 per cent
Route Length – 47 km with 5 major bridges and 58 minor bridges
Investment outlay – ₹1476 crore
Project duration- 4 years
Benefits
Additional freight traffic – 14.53 MTPA
Logistic cost savings per annum- ₹ 137 crore
Employment Generation -32 lakh human-days
The line handles traffic from Chennai Port, New Mangalore Port, Ennore Port and Tuticorin Port. It also serves Whitefield ICD, oil terminals of IOCL, BPCL, HPCL at Devangonthi, Malur logistics park, and the upcoming 30-million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) multi-modal logistics park at Muddelinganahalli.
Hosur Omalur doubling (147 km, ₹ 1948 crore )
The route acts is a feeder/supply route to Bengaluru region and serves pilgrims travelling to Kanniyakumari and Rameswaram.
Route Length- 147 km with 20 major bridges and 359 minor bridges
Investment outlay – ₹1948 crore
Project duration- 4 years
Benefits
Additional freight traffic – 8.95 MTPA
Logistic cost savings per annum- ₹263.13 crore
Employment Generation – 50 lakh human-days
The line connects Dharmapuri industrial node which produces agri-products, textiles, electronics and EVs.
Salem –Karur –Dindigul Doubling (159 km, ₹ 2242 crore)
The route connects three capitals- Bengaluru, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram
Route Length – 159 km with two mega bridges over Kaveri and Amaravathi rivers, 18 major bridges and 241 minor bridges
Investment outlay- ₹2242 crore
Project duration – 3 years
Benefits
Additional freight traffic – 6.87 MTPA
Logistic cost savings per annum- ₹ 219 crore
Employment Generation-54 lakh human-days
The line will improve access to MSME clusters, Salem Steel and UltraTech Cement’s hubs in Karur and Salem. It connects North-west Tamil Nadu and Bengaluru region to Karaikal and Tuticorin ports.