The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved three railway projects worth Rs. 10,783 crore to add extra tracks on busy routes across five eastern and central Indian states. The Ministry of Railways will oversee these multitracking initiatives, which together will extend the rail network by approximately 656 kilometres and serve populations across 14 districts in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The three projects and their scale
The approved schemes are:
- Kharagpur to Jharsuguda (Bagdehi) 4th Line
- Katni to Pendra Road 4th Line
- Bilaspur (Uslapur) to Pendra Road 3rd Line
Work is scheduled for completion by 2029-30. These projects will benefit roughly 4,790 villages with a combined population of around 56 lakh people.
The additional track capacity will handle about 27 million tonnes of freight annually. The routes currently carry essential commodities including coal, cement, and iron and steel products. Beyond cargo transport, the improved connectivity will also serve tourist sites such as Taratarini Temple, Jagannath Temple near Jharsuguda, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Amarkantak Temple.
According to projections, the projects will reduce annual oil imports by approximately 12 crore litres and lower carbon dioxide emissions by around 62 crore kilograms, equivalent to planting 2.48 crore trees.
What this means for you
If you live in or travel through eastern and central India, you can expect faster train movement and fewer delays as overcrowded routes gain additional capacity. Freight companies and industries relying on rail transport will see improved logistics efficiency and lower shipping costs. Local communities in these 14 districts stand to gain employment opportunities during construction and potentially better railway services once the work concludes. The environmental benefit of shifting goods onto trains rather than trucks will help reduce air pollution in these regions.