NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved four railway projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total estimated cost of approximately ₹9,450 crore.
The projects will add around 410 km to the existing Indian Railways network across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Together, they cover eight districts and are aimed at improving rail connectivity, reducing congestion and strengthening the movement of passengers and freight.
Approved Railway Projects
| Project | Distance | States Covered |
| Kharagpur–Bhadrak (Ranital) 4th Line | 173 km | West Bengal and Odisha |
| Gummidipundi–Gudur 3rd and 4th Line | 90 km | Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu |
| Bhadrak–Haridaspur 4th Line | 75 km | Odisha |
| Cuttack–Paradeep (Badabandha) 3rd and 4th Line | 72 km | Odisha |
The four multi-tracking projects are expected to improve rail connectivity across key parts of eastern and southern India. The projects will provide better access to around 6,448 villages, with a combined population of approximately 60 lakh people.
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The projects have been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, with a focus on improving multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency.
The projects are expected to strengthen the transportation of important commodities, including, coal, Iron ore, cement, Iron and steel,containers, automobiles and food grains.The new and additional railway lines are also strategically important for several prominent tourist destinations across the country.