The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired bythe Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved two projects worth INR6,405-croreof the Ministry of Railways. These projects include:
Koderma–Barkakana doubling(133 km): This projectwill pass through the major coal producing region of Jharkhand. In addition,the project will serve as the smallest and most efficient rail link betweenPatna and Ranchi.
Bellary–Chikjajur doubling(185 km): The route ofthis project passes through Bellary and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka andAnantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
The two projects, covering seven districts in thestates of Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, will increase the existingnetwork of Indian Railways by about 318 km.
These are essential routes for transportation of goodssuch as coal, iron ore, finished steel, cement, and petroleum products. Capacityaddition works will result in an additional freight of 49 MTPA (million tonnesper annum).