Railway projects worth Rs.11,661 cr get clearance

In order to build well spread rail network across the country, Union Cabinet recently cleared six rail projects at a cost of Rs.11,661 crore including setting up new lines and doubling the existing ones. The projects would cover 881 km of lines in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Naxalite-affected areas of Odisha. It also included building new 130 km-long Jeypore-Malkangiri line costing Rs.2,676 crore. The first railway line in Malkangiri is likely to be completed by 2021-22 covering districts of Koraput and Malkangiri in Odisha. Connecting Naxalite-affected areas is the top priority and for this the Indian Railways starting the first rail project in Odisha's Malkangiri belt, said the concerned minister. In addition to this, the ministerial panel has also approved doubling and electrification projects of the 425 km-long Jhansi-Manikpur and Bhimsen-Khairar lines at a cost of Rs.4,956 crore and they are likely to be completed by 2022-23. The project will cover the backward Bundelkhand region comprising Jhansi, Mahoba, Banda, Chitrakut Dham districts in UP and Chhatarpur in MP. This project will help promote Khajuraho in MP as an international tourist destination, said Railways Minister.