Dipanjan Mondal
New Delhi, 12 June 2025:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved two projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total cost of Rs. 6,405 crores. The approved multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to approximately. 1,408 villages, with a population of approximately 28.19 lakh.
The projects include the Koderma–Barkakana doubling project, spanning 133 km through a major coal-producing region in Jharkhand. “Furthermore, it serves as the shortest and most efficient rail link between Patna and Ranchi,” the Ministry of Railways said in a statement.
The second approved project involves the doubling of the Ballari–Chikjajur line, extending 185 km. The alignment traverses the Ballari and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka and the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
According to the statement, “The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion. The projects are in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji’s Vision of a New India, which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the area, which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.”
“These are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as coal, iron ore, finished steel, cement, fertilizers, agriculture commodities, and Petroleum products etc. The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 49 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum). The Railways being environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost of the country, reduce oil import (52 Crore Litres) and lower CO2 emissions (264 Crore Kg) which is equivalent to plantation of 11 Crore trees,” it added.
The Ministry mentioned that these projects fall under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aimed at enhancing multi-modal connectivity, made possible through integrated infrastructure planning. According to the Ministry, “They will provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services.”
