The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved four railway projects worth Rs 111.69 billion to enhance mobility, providing improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways (IR). These approved projects include the Itarsi-Nagpur Fourth Rail Line Project, which involves laying a 297.05 km long fourth rail line between Itarsi and Nagpur in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, respectively. The second project is the Aurangabad-Parbhani Rail Line Doubling Project, which involves the doubling of an existing 177.29 km railway line between the Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) and Parbhani stations in Maharashtra.
The Aluabari-New Jalpaiguri Third and Fourth Rail Line Project involves the construction of a 56.6 km long third and fourth rail line in West Bengal.
Additionally, the Dangoaposi-Jaroli Third and Fourth Rail Line Project involves the construction of 85.88 km of third and fourth lines parallel to the existing corridor, in Jharkhand and Odisha.
These lines will play a critical role in transporting iron ore from the mineral-rich Keonjhar region to industrial hubs and Paradip Port, ensuring seamless and efficient movement of bulk commodities like coal, gypsum, and fertilisers. The project will enhance capacity, improve trade efficiency, and support the rapid evacuation of iron ore, contributing significantly to industrial growth in eastern and northern India.