The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two major railway multitracking projects covering districts in Odisha and Jharkhand, with a combined cost of Rs 3,907 crore.
The projects — Paradeep–Haridaspur Doubling and Rajkharsawan–Dangoaposi 4th Line — will expand the Indian Railways network by about 145 km and are slated for completion by 2030‑31.
For Odisha, the projects are expected to significantly improve connectivity to Paradeep Port, industrial hubs, and cultural destinations such as the Lalitgiri Buddhist Complex and Shree Baladevjew Temple. Officials said the enhanced line capacity will ease congestion, improve punctuality, and boost freight movement, particularly for commodities like coal, iron ore, dolomite, and limestone.
The projects will benefit approximately 1,526 villages with a population of 14 lakh, creating new employment and self‑employment opportunities. They are aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, focusing on multi‑modal connectivity, logistics efficiency, and sustainable development.
Railways estimate an additional freight traffic of 44 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum), reducing oil imports by 6 crore litres and cutting 29 crore kg of CO₂ emissions — equivalent to planting one crore trees.
