Fri Apr 04 09:57:17 UTC 2025: ## Indian Cabinet Approves Major Railway Upgrades Across Central and Eastern India

**New Delhi, April 4, 2025** – The Union Cabinet today approved significant investments in railway infrastructure across central and eastern India, totaling over ₹18,658 crore. The projects aim to improve freight capacity, reduce congestion, boost economic activity, and enhance environmental sustainability.

Key announcements include:

* **Chhattisgarh Rail Expansion:** Two new railway lines connecting Kharsia-Naya Raipur-Parmalkasa (₹8,741 crore), adding 278 route kilometers and 615 track kilometers. This project will increase cargo capacity by 21-38 million tonnes, accommodate 8 new trains, and reduce CO2 emissions by 113 crore kilograms.

* **Maharashtra Rail Doubling:** Doubling of the railway line from Gondia to Ballarshah (₹4,819 crore) to improve North-South connectivity and boost tourism.

* **Odisha Rail Upgrades:** Approval for the third and fourth railway lines between Jarapada (Talcher-Angul area) and Sambalpur (₹3,917 crore), increasing route length by 127km and track length by 277km. An additional project connecting Sambalpur (Sason) to Jharsuguda (₹1,181 crore) with a 35km route and 87km track length was also approved. These Odisha projects will significantly enhance connectivity in key economic hubs.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the environmental benefits, stating the projects will save 95 crore liters of diesel and 477 crore kilograms of CO2, equivalent to planting 19 crore trees. He emphasized that the projects align with the PM Gati Shakti plan, aiming to optimize cargo movement and address existing infrastructural bottlenecks in Naxal-affected regions and improve connectivity between Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand to southern India.

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