Union Cabinet Clears Rs 13,041 Cr Rail and Highway Projects

The Union Cabinet approved a package of infrastructure projects worth Rs 13,041 crore on August 19, 2026, including four major railway multitracking initiatives and one highway development aimed at alleviating congestion and boosting economic connectivity across eastern and southern India.

The railway projects, with a combined investment of approximately Rs 9,450 crore, will add about 410 km to the Indian Railways network and are scheduled for completion by the 2030-31 period. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the works to decongest the high-density Howrah-Chennai route and other critical corridors. The projects cover districts across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

The most significant component is the construction of a fourth line on the 173 km Kharagpur-Bhadrak-Ranital section between West Bengal and Odisha, costing Rs 3,352 crore. Officials stated this corridor, connecting eastern and southern India, is saturated even after the commissioning of a third line and is essential for linking steel hubs at Jakhapura, Tatanagar, and Durgapur with Paradip and Dhamra ports. The project is expected to add...