Coal news and updates

Cabinet okays slew of rail network expansion projects

In a major push to give a boost to the infrastructure sector in the country, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved 9 projects worth Rs 24,374.86 crore in 9 states for expansion of railway network and connectivity across the country.

These include construction of a third line between Rajnandgaon-Nagpur (Kalamna) in the Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh and Gondia, Bhandara and Nagpur districts in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs 1,908.51 crore. The 228.3-km long railway line is expected to be completed in 5 years.
 
Besides facilitating travel, various industries, mines, coalfields and power plants will have additional transport capacity to meet their requirement. The Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh and Gondia, Bhandara and Nagpur districts of Maharashtra will be major beneficiaries.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs also approved construction of a third line between Kharagpur (Nimpura) and Adityapur in West Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand at an estimated cost of Rs 1,312.44 crore and expected completion cost of Rs 1,483.36 crore.
 
The 132-km long railway line is expected to be completed in 4 years. Besides facilitating the travel, this line will greatly ease the ever-increasing freight traffic between these sections.

The CCEA also approved construction of a second line between New Bongaigaon and Kamakhya of Northeast Frontier Railway in Assam at an estimated cost of Rs 2,232.32 crore and expected completion cost of Rs 2,586.85 crore.
 
The 176-km long railway line is expected to be completed in 5 years during the 12th and 13th Plan period.
 
Besides facilitating travel, upcoming industries in the region will have additional transport capacity to meet their requirements.