The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four railway track-quadrupling projects on the Howrah-Chennai high-density network and one highway project in Bihar, with a combined investment of ₹13,041 crore, the government announced on Wednesday. These projects aim to enhance connectivity and reduce travel time across multiple states.
The four railway projects will add 410 km to the network across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. The highway project involves constructing a four-lane road in Bihar between Muzaffarpur and Sonbarsa, which will significantly cut travel time. The rail projects focus on track quadrupling to increase capacity on the busy Howrah-Chennai corridor, a critical freight and passenger route, according to a cabinet statement reported by livemint.com.
These infrastructure investments are expected to improve connectivity for approximately 6,448 villages with a combined population of about 6 million people. The Howrah-Chennai corridor is one of the busiest rail routes in India, and the track-quadrupling projects will help decongest the network and support economic growth in the region. The highway project in Bihar will facilitate smoother transport and logistics, boosting regional trade and mobility.
The Cabinet's approval marks a significant step in expanding India's transport infrastructure, with the projects collectively valued at ₹13,041 crore. The government has emphasized the importance of these developments in enhancing regional connectivity and supporting economic activities across eastern and southern India.