Cabinet Approves 2339 Km-Long Multi-Tracking Projects Worth Rs 32,500 Crore

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved seven projects of Ministry of Railways with estimated cost of around Rs.32,500 Crore, with 100% funding from Central Government. The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The proposals of Multi-tracking, according to a statement from the Ministry of Railways, is expected ease operations and reduce congestion, providing the much required infrastructural development on the busiest sections across Indian Railways.

The projects will cover 35 districts in 9 states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal and the same will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by 2339 Kms. This is expected to provide employment of 7.06 crore man-days to the people from these states.

The cabinet also approved a bus scheme “PM-eBus Sewa” for augmenting city bus operation by 10,000 e-buses on PPP model.  The scheme, according to a government press release, would have an estimated cost of Rs.57,613 crore, out of which support of Rs.20,000 crore will be provided by the central government. The Scheme will support bus operations for 10 years, it said.