The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has given the green light to two major railway projects with an estimated cost of ₹6,798 crore. The approved projects include the doubling of the Narkatiaganj-Raxaul-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga & Sitamarhi-Muzaffarpur sections, covering 256 km, and the construction of a new rail line between Errupalem and Namburu via Amaravati, covering 57 km.
The first project will enhance connectivity to Nepal, Northeast India, and border areas, facilitating both passenger and freight movement, thereby driving socio-economic development. The second project, a new rail line, will traverse through NTR Vijayawada and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh and Khammam district in Telangana. This will link 168 villages, serving around 12 lakh people, and create 9 new stations. It will also boost connectivity to two aspirational districts (Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur), serving 388 villages and about 9 lakh people. The new line will directly connect Amaravati, the proposed capital of Andhra Pradesh, improving mobility for industries and citizens while increasing efficiency for Indian Railways. The multi-tracking project will also ease congestion on one of the busiest railway sections.
The initiatives are aimed at improving logistical efficiency by expanding existing railway capacity and connecting previously unlinked areas. These developments will help to create a more robust transportation network, streamline supply chains, and boost economic growth.
These projects, spanning eight districts across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Bihar, will increase the Indian Railways network by 313 km and enable the transport of essential commodities such as agricultural products, fertilizers, coal, steel, and cement. An additional freight capacity of 31 MTPA will be created. Furthermore, these projects will help India meet its climate goals, cutting CO2 emissions by 168 crore kg, equivalent to planting 7 crore trees.
These projects, set to be completed in five years, will enhance connectivity, streamline travel, minimize logistics costs, cut oil imports, and significantly lower CO2 emissions.
Aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, these projects will bring comprehensive development to the region, creating new employment and self-employment opportunities through seamless connectivity for goods and services.
