The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved eight new rail line projects to facilitate ease in transportation, reduce oil imports and lower carbon emissions.
These projects include Gunupur-Therubali New Line project that involves construction of a 73.62 km long new railway line at a sanctioned cost of Rs 9.35 billion in Odisha, Junagarh-Nabarangpur New Line project that involves construction of a 116.21 km long new railway line linking Junagarh and Nabarangpur in Odisha, Badampahar-Keonjhar New Rail Line project that involves construction of a 82.06 km long new rail line from Badampahar to Keonjhar in Odisha, and Bhadrachalam (Pandurangapuram)-Malkangiri (Junagad) New Line project that involves construction of 173.61 km long new rail connecting Bhadrachalam (Pandurangapuram) to Malkangiri (Junagad) covering the states of Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Bhadrachalam (Pandurangapuram)-Malkangiri (Junagad) New Line project will also connect Hyderabad to Delhi–Chennai main railway line at an estimated cost of Rs 35.92 billion.
Further, Bangriposi-Gorumahisani New Rail Line project involves developing a 85.6 km new rail line between Bangriposi-Gorumahisani stations in Odisha, Buramara-Chakulia New Railway Line project involves construction of a 59.96 km long new railway line from Buramara to Chakulia in Odisha, Jalna-Jalgaon New Railway Line project involves construction of a 174 km long new rail line from Jalna to Jalgaon in Maharashtra and Vikramshila-Katareah (Pirpainthi-Naugachia) New Rail Line project involves laying a 26.3 km long new line from Vikramshila to Katareah in Bihar.