Strategic line near chicken's neck to steel corridor, Cabinet clears key rail expansion projects

Indian Express

5 days ago

The Union Cabinet Thursday approved four railway expansion projects including a multitracking project near the strategic Siliguri corridor, another in one of India's highest steel production areas and one that will make up a part of the Delhi-Chennai high-density network
These new projects, spanning a cumulative 574 km across 13 districts of six states, are estimated to cost Rs 11,168 crore.
They involve the construction of the third and fourth lines between Aluabari Road and New Jalpaiguri (near the so-called chicken's neck), a fourth line between Itarsi and Nagpur which is part of the Delhi-Chennai network, and the third and fourth lines on the Dangoaposi-Jaroli iron and steel belt. The fourth project is the doubling of the railway line between Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) and Parbhani.
The 297-km line between Itarsi (Madhya Pradesh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra) intersects with Mumbai-Howrah network at Nagpur. Officials said the fourth line will decongest the network and enable faster movement of trains. The construction of the line will be complex as it will have 37 stations, 36 major and 415 minor bridges, two overpasses, 74 underpasses, four tunnels and two rail overbridges. Its total estimated cost is Rs 5,451 crore.
The 57-km Aluabari-New Jalpaiguri third and fourth line, which passes through Bihar's Kishanganj and three districts of West Bengal, is of strategic importance as it passes near the only route to enter the North-East from rest of India. It is near the international borders with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
The project will have 99 bridges, three overpasses and eight underpasses. Officials said the line expansion will help in the movement of 21.6 million additional tons of cargo.
The 43-km Dangoaposi-Jaroli project connects Odisha's Kendujhar district with Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, which is one of the highest steel production areas. A senior official of the Ministry of Railways said that the line expansion will connect iron ores to steel production units and will play a crucial role in meeting the annual steel production target of 300 million tons. The project will cost around Rs 1,752 crore.
The 177-km Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-Parbhani doubling project in Maharashtra will improve connectivity in the Marathwada region and provide an alternative route between Mumbai and Secunderabad. It will also connect the Jalna dry port and goods sheds at Dinagaon and Daulatabad, besides supporting the upcoming Aurangabad Industrial City.
Railway officials said the line doubling will facilitate the movement of 14.3 million tons of additional cargo from the region. The project includes the construction of 28 major and 161 minor bridges, and 29 underpasses.
Dheeraj Mishra is a Principal correspondent with The Indian Express, Business Bureau. He covers India's two key ministries- Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. He frequently uses the Right to Information (RTI) Act for his stories, which have resulted in many impactful reports. ... Read More