Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, announced that the Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved two major railway multi-tracking projects worth ₹3,907 crore covering four districts across Odisha and Jharkhand. The projects will extend the Indian Railways network by approximately 145 kilometres and are expected to benefit around 14 lakh people across 1,526 villages.

Context

Chouhan shared the cabinet decision on X, stating — translated from Hindi — that the two projects, the Paradip–Haridaspur doubling and the Rajkharsawan–Dangoaposi fourth rail line, would improve rail connectivity for approximately 1,526 villages and a population of nearly 14 lakh. He added that an additional freight-handling capacity of 44 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) would be developed as a result. The cabinet decision was framed as part of the broader push for operational efficiency, logistics improvement, and eco-friendly transport.

Policy Backdrop

The two projects fit squarely within the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, launched in October 2021, which aims to integrate rail, road, and port infrastructure under a unified planning framework. Indian Railways has pursued multi-tracking works on mineral and port corridors in eastern India across successive governments, with the current administration accelerating cabinet-level approvals to reduce logistics costs and shift freight from road to rail. Odisha is home to Paradip Port, one of India's largest cargo ports, making the Paradip–Haridaspur doubling particularly significant for bulk commodity exports. Jharkhand's mining-heavy economy similarly depends on efficient rail links to ports and industrial markets, and the Rajkharsawan–Dangoaposi fourth rail line directly addresses that corridor's capacity constraints.

Stakeholders and Impact

Rural communities in the four affected districts stand to gain direct rail access or improved service frequency, reducing isolation and opening economic opportunities. The mining sector and freight operators in both states are among the primary beneficiaries, as the additional 44 MTPA capacity will ease congestion on some of eastern India's most heavily loaded corridors. Chouhan also highlighted tourism as an expected beneficiary, alongside regional development and the shift to environmentally cleaner rail-based transport over road haulage.

What's Next

The Ministry of Railways is expected to issue tender documents and land acquisition notices for both projects in the coming months, with revised completion timelines to follow. Analysts tracking eastern India's infrastructure build-out will watch for further multi-tracking or freight corridor approvals in subsequent cabinet meetings. Progress on land acquisition — historically the most time-sensitive variable in such projects — will determine how quickly the 145-km network expansion translates into operational capacity on the ground.