The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, 19 August approved four multi-tracking railway projects with a combined investment of ₹9,450 crore, targeting completion by 2030-31. The projects span 410 km across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, and are expected to benefit an estimated 60 lakh people across approximately 6,448 villages.

The Four Projects at a Glance

The first project covers a 4th line on the Kharagpur–Bhadrak (Ranital) corridor stretching 173 km across West Bengal and Odisha. The second adds a 4th line on the Bhadrak–Haridaspur route, covering 75 km entirely within Odisha.

The third project lays a 3rd and 4th line on the Gummidipundi–Gudur stretch of 90 km, spanning Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The fourth adds a 3rd and 4th line on the Cuttack–Paradeep (Badabandha) route, a 72 km corridor in Odisha. Together, the four corridors cover eight districts across the four states.

Capacity and Freight Impact

According to the Cabinet communiqué, the multi-tracking works are designed to alleviate congestion on some of India's busiest freight corridors. The capacity augmentation is projected to generate additional freight traffic of 76 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum), handling commodities including coal, iron ore, cement, steel, containers, automobiles, and food grains.

The projects are aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which emphasises integrated multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency. Officials said the enhanced capacity will cut logistics costs, reduce oil imports by approximately 13 crore litres, and lower CO2 emissions by around 65 crore kg — equivalent, according to the statement, to planting 2.60 crore trees.

Connectivity to Villages and Tourist Sites

Beyond freight, the projects are expected to improve passenger connectivity to several prominent destinations. The Cabinet statement listed tourist and religious sites including the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhitarkanika National Park, Maa Bhadrakali Temple, Panchalingeswar Temple, Chandipur Beach, Pulicat Lake, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Lord Veeraraghava Perumal Temple, and the Buddhist heritage site at Lalitgiri, among others.

This comes amid a broader push by the Centre to expand Indian Railways' network capacity ahead of projected freight and passenger demand growth through 2030. Multi-tracking projects have been a consistent feature of CCEA approvals over the past two years, as congestion on legacy single and double-track corridors has constrained throughput on key industrial routes.

Employment and Regional Development

The government said the projects are consistent with Prime Minister Modi's vision of making communities in the region 'Atmanirbhar' through infrastructure-led development. The statement cited enhanced employment opportunities during construction and increased economic activity post-commissioning as key social benefits across the eight districts covered.

With a 2030-31 completion target, the projects now move to detailed execution planning. Industry observers will watch whether disbursement timelines and contractor mobilisation keep pace with the stated deadline — a persistent challenge in large rail infrastructure programmes.