India approves ₹3,907 cr rail expansion in Odisha and Jharkhand
Two eastern India rail projects worth ₹3,907 cr will move coal, iron ore and cut logistics costs for heavy industries.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two major railway capacity expansion projects worth approximately ₹3,907 crore aimed at strengthening freight movement and improving logistics efficiency across Odisha and Jharkhand.
The projects include the doubling of the Paradeep–Haridaspur railway line in Odisha and the construction of a fourth rail line between Rajkharsawan and Dangoaposi in Jharkhand. Together, the projects will add around 145 km to the Indian Railways network and are scheduled for completion by 2030-31.
Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects are intended to improve multimodal connectivity, increase line capacity and ease congestion on key freight corridors serving eastern India.
The upgraded rail infrastructure will support the transportation of bulk commodities including coal, iron ore, dolomite, limestone and gypsum, strengthening supply chains for the mining, steel, power and manufacturing sectors.
According to the government, the capacity enhancement is expected to enable an additional 44 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic, improving operational efficiency while reducing logistics costs for industries dependent on rail transport.
The projects are also expected to enhance the reliability and speed of freight operations by reducing network bottlenecks and increasing train handling capacity along high-demand routes.
Besides supporting industrial growth, the government said greater freight movement by rail will contribute to sustainability goals by reducing dependence on road transport. The projects are projected to save approximately 60 million litres of oil while lowering carbon dioxide emissions by 290 million kilograms, equivalent to planting around 10 million trees.
The railway capacity expansion forms part of the government's broader strategy to strengthen freight infrastructure through integrated transport planning under the PM Gati Shakti initiative, supporting faster and more efficient movement of goods across India's industrial and mineral-producing regions.