The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved four major railway projects worth around ₹12,328 crore aimed at boosting connectivity, freight movement, and regional development. The projects include one new rail line in Gujarat’s Kutch region and multi-tracking works in Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, and Assam.
The new Deshalpar–Hajipir–Luna and Vayor–Lakhpat rail line will provide rail connectivity to remote areas of the Kutch district. The project, estimated at ₹2,526 crore, will add 145 route km and 164 track km to the railway network in Gujarat and is expected to be completed in three years. It will not only facilitate the transportation of salt, cement, coal, clinker, and bentonite but also give a major boost to tourism by connecting the Rann of Kutch, Harappan site Dholavira, Koteshwar temple, Narayan Sarovar, and Lakhpat fort. A total of 13 new stations will be created, benefitting 866 villages and nearly 16 lakh people.
The Cabinet also approved the Secunderabad (Sanathnagar)–Wadi third and fourth line project covering Karnataka and Telangana at a cost of ₹5,012 crore. The 173 km stretch will be completed in five years and benefit one Aspirational District—Kalaburagi. In Bihar, the Bhagalpur–Jamalpur third line project, spanning 53 km and costing ₹1,156 crore, will be completed in three years. In Assam, the Furkating–New Tinsukia doubling project, covering 194 km at a cost of ₹3,634 crore, has a completion timeline of four years.
Together, the projects will add 565 route km to the Indian Railways network, benefiting about 3,108 villages and more than 47 lakh people. The initiatives are expected to generate 251 lakh human-days of employment during construction.
The capacity expansion will ease congestion, improve operational efficiency, and enhance passenger and freight services. It will also support the movement of coal, cement, steel, containers, fertilizers, petroleum products, agricultural commodities, and automobiles. The projects are projected to handle an additional 68 million tonnes of freight annually.
Officials said the works will help reduce logistics costs, oil imports, and carbon emissions, contributing to India’s climate goals. The reduction of 360 crore kg of CO₂ emissions is estimated to be equivalent to planting 14 crore trees.
The Cabinet noted that the projects have been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan with an emphasis on integrated multimodal connectivity and economic growth. The Ministry of Railways said the new infrastructure would align with the Prime Minister’s vision of an “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” supporting comprehensive development and creating opportunities for employment and self-employment in the region.