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Union Cabinet Approves Railway Projects Worth Rs 6,456 Crore

By99notes

(Source: Indian Express; Section: Govt & Politics; Page: 05)

Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy – Infrastructure
Context:
  • The Union Cabinet approved three major railway projects involving two new lines and one multi-tracking project, with an estimated cost of Rs 6,456 crore.
  • These projects will expand the railway network by 296 km across seven districts in Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh.

 Analysis of News:  

            Everything You Need To Know About 

Key Projects and Corridors

  • Jamshedpur-Purulia-Asansol (121 km): A third line connecting Jharkhand and West Bengal, linking the Delhi-Howrah and Mumbai-Howrah corridors. Cost: Rs 2,170 crore.
  • Sardega-Bhalumuda (37 km): A new double line between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
  • Bargarh-Nawapara Road (138 km): A new line in Odisha, enhancing connectivity for agricultural goods and promoting local textile products. Cost: Rs 2,926 crore.

Economic and Environmental Impact

  • The projects aim to boost transportation efficiency, particularly for industrial goods, and reduce CO2 emissions by shifting cargo transport from road to rail.
  • The Jamshedpur-Purulia-Asansol corridor alone is expected to save 72 crore kg of CO2 emissions.

Infrastructure Development

  • These projects will include the construction of 14 new stations and provide connectivity to approximately 1,300 villages, benefiting about 11 lakh people.
  • The routes will support the transportation of essential commodities, aligning with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
About PM Gati Shakti
  • Aim: To ensure integrated planning and implementation of infrastructure projects in the next four years, with focus on expediting works on the ground, saving costs and creating jobs.
  • The Gati Shakti scheme will subsume the Rs 110 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline that was launched in 2019.
  • Besides cutting logistics costs, the scheme is also aimed at increasing cargo handling capacity and reducing the turnaround time at ports to boost trade.
  • It also aims to have 11 industrial corridors and two new defence corridors – one in Tamil Nadu and other in Uttar Pradesh. Extending 4G connectivity to all villages is another aim. Adding 17,000 kms to the gas pipeline network is being planned.
  • It will help in fulfilling the ambitious targets set by the government for 2024-25, including expanding the length of the national highway network to 2 lakh kms, creation of more than 200 new airports, heliports and water aerodromes.

Integrated Approach: It intends to bring together 16 infrastructure related Ministries.

  • This will help in removing long-standing issues such as disjointed planning, lack of standardisation, problems with clearances, and timely creation and utilisation of infrastructure capacities.
  • Gati Shakti Digital Platform: It involves the creation of a common umbrella platform through which infrastructure projects can be planned and implemented in an efficacious manner by way of coordination between various ministries/departments on a real-time basis.
PYQ: Investment in infrastructure is essential for a more rapid and inclusive economic growth. Discuss in the light of India’s experience. (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2021)
Practice Question:  Examine the significance of the recent Union Cabinet-approved railway projects in enhancing regional connectivity and economic development in eastern India. How do these projects align with the goals of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan? (250 words/15 m)

 

 

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