New Delhi, Sep 9 : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved five railway multitracking projects involving an estimated investment of Rs 10,021 crore across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.
The projects include the Arakkonam-Renigunta third and fourth lines, Whitefield-Bangarapet third and fourth lines, Hosur-Omalur doubling, Salem-Karur-Dindigul doubling and multitracking of the Secunderabad (Ghatkesar)-Kazipet section.
Together, the projects will add around 540 km to the existing railway network and are planned for completion by 2029-30, according to an official statement.
The increased line capacity is expected to improve mobility, operational efficiency and service reliability while helping decongest key railway routes.
The projects, planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, will focus on enhancing multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations.
The five projects will cover 17 districts and improve rail connectivity to around 2,121 villages with a combined population of nearly 52 lakh, the statement said.
The enhanced rail network will also improve connectivity to several major tourist and religious destinations, including Tirupati, Tiruttani, Kolar Gold Fields, Hogenakkal Falls, Kodaikanal Hills, Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, Mettur Dam, Yadagirigutta Temple and Bhongir Fort.
The routes are important for transportation of commodities such as coal, cement, iron and steel, containers, automobiles, foodgrains, petroleum products and fertilisers.
The capacity augmentation is expected to facilitate additional freight traffic of around 47 million tonnes per annum.
The government said the projects would also help reduce logistics costs and oil imports by around eight crore litres, besides lowering carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 42 crore kg, equivalent to the environmental benefit of planting around two crore trees.(KNS)
