The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved infrastructure projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore, including four railway multitracking projects across four states and the four-laning of the Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa section of NH-22 in Bihar.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the four railway projects at an estimated cost of Rs 9,450 crore, while the Bihar highway project involves a capital cost of Rs 3,590.73 crore. Together, the projects are aimed at improving passenger and freight movement, reducing congestion, strengthening logistics and boosting economic activity and tourism.
Welcoming the decisions, PM Modi said the railway projects would provide a major boost to infrastructure and connectivity across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
“A major boost to railway infrastructure and connectivity across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal! The Cabinet has approved four multitracking projects, adding important capacity to the Indian Railways network and benefiting lakhs of people,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
The approved railway projects comprise the 173-km fourth line between Kharagpur and Bhadrak (Ranital) in West Bengal and Odisha; the 75-km fourth line between Bhadrak and Haridaspur in Odisha; the 90-km third and fourth lines between Gummidipundi and Gudur in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; and the 72-km third and fourth lines between Cuttack and Paradeep (Badabandha) in Odisha.
The four projects, covering eight districts, will add around 410 km to the Indian Railways network and improve connectivity to nearly 6,448 villages with a combined population of about 60 lakh.
The projects have been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to enhance multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency through integrated planning. They will facilitate the movement of passengers, goods and services while reducing congestion and improving operational efficiency and service reliability.
The expanded rail capacity is expected to support the transportation of key commodities including coal, iron ore, cement, iron and steel, containers, automobiles and foodgrains. The projects are estimated to facilitate additional freight traffic of around 76 million tonnes per annum.
The government said the rail projects would also improve connectivity to several tourist and cultural destinations, including Bhitarkanika National Park, Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandipur Beach, Pulicat Lake, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Dhabaleswar Temple and Lalitgiri.
The Railways’ capacity augmentation is also expected to reduce logistics costs and fuel consumption. According to the government, the projects could help save around 13 crore litres of oil and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 65 crore kg.
Four-laning of Bihar’s NH-22
In a separate decision, the Cabinet approved the upgradation of the 82.578-km Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa section of NH-22 in Bihar to four-lane standards at a capital cost of Rs 3,590.73 crore. The project will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
PM Modi described the project as an important step towards expanding connectivity and supporting the all-round development of Bihar.
“The rapid expansion of connectivity is essential to our efforts for the all-round development of Bihar. In this direction, our government has today approved the construction of a four-lane highway on the Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa section of NH-22,” PM Modi said on X.
He said the project would help reduce travel time while giving a boost to economic activities and tourism.
The highway will serve as a key link between the India-Nepal border at Sonbarsa and Muzaffarpur, where it connects with NH-27. It is expected to ease congestion in densely populated areas including Muzaffarpur, Muksudpur, Runni Saidpur, Thumma, Dumra, Bhutahi and Sonbarsa.
Designed for a maximum speed of 100 kmph and an average speed of 80 kmph, the corridor will have no at-grade median openings to facilitate safer and faster movement of traffic.
The project includes seven major bridges, including a 340-metre bridge over the perennial Bagmati River, three railway overbridges and two flyovers measuring 1,170 metres and 270 metres.
The upgraded corridor is also expected to strengthen connectivity with industrial, social and logistics hubs, including four industrial estates and a Mega Food Park identified as PM Gati-Shakti economic nodes. It will also improve access to railway stations in Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi and facilitate movement of agricultural produce and other goods.
The highway will provide better access to important religious and cultural destinations, including the Buddhist Circuit and Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi, while strengthening cross-border passenger and cargo movement through the nearby Bhithamore Land Port.
