Cabinet approves Rs. 10,700-crore investment in new rail lines.

The Union Cabinet recently approved a proposal to construct new railway lines and double existing tracks for Rs. 10,700 crore to increase freight and passenger carrying capacity across half-a-dozen states.

The projects include doubling of 190-km Hubli-Chickajur line at a cost of Rs. 1,294 crore, construction of a 132-km line between Wardha and Balharshah for Rs. 1,443 crore and doubling of a 160-km Ramna-Singrauli line involving an investment of Rs. 2,675 crore.

The other projects approved include the construction of 165-km line between Annupur and Katni, doubling of 261-km Katni–Singrauli railway line at a cost of Rs. 2,084 crore, and construction of a bridge and doubling project of Rampur Dumra to Rajendra Pul sector in Bihar for Rs. 1,700 crore. The rail ministry is working on a total annual plan size of Rs. 1 lakh crore, including Rs. 40,000 crore of budgetary support and spending of Rs. 17,000 crore from extra budgetary resources.

BS