Cabinet Approves Seven Multi-Tracking Projects In Indian Railways
Transport
4 min read
The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 16 August 2023 approved seven multi-tracking projects of the Ministry of Railways at an estimated cost of about Rs 32,500 crore with central government funding.
The proposals for these multi-tracking projects will ease operations and reduce congestion, thereby enabling necessary infrastructural development on the busiest sections of Indian Railways.
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The project covers 35 districts in 9 states viz. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
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These projects will add 2339 km to the existing network of Indian Railways. Apart from this, employment of 7.06 crore man-days will be available to the people of the states.
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These projects include: Gorakhpur-Chhabani-Valmiki Nagar, Son Nagar-Andal Multi Tracking Project, Nergundi-Barang and Khurda Road-Vizianagaram, Mudkhed-Medchal and Mahbubnagar-Dhone, Guntur-Bibinagar, Chopan-Chunar and Samakhiali-Gandhidham.
Project benefits:
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These are essential routes for transportation of various commodities like food grains, fertilisers, coal, cement, fly-ash, iron and finished steel, clinker, crude oil, limestone, edible oil etc.
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The capacity addition works will result in an additional 200 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) of freight.
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Being an eco-friendly and energy efficient mode of transport, Railways will help in achieving climate goals and bring down the country's logistics cost.
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These projects are in line with the Prime Minister's vision of a New India, which will make the people of the region "Atmanirbhar" by creating a multi-tasking workforce in the region and enhance their employment/self-employment opportunities.
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These projects are an outcome of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity which has been made possible through integrated planning.
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The project will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services.
Development of Indian Railways:
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Indian Railways is the fourth largest network in the world, spread over 1.2 lakh km in the country.
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The idea of establishing a railway system was first proposed in 1832 in British India. At the time, rail travel in Britain was in its infancy.
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In 1844, Lord Hardinge, the Governor-General of India, allowed private entrepreneurs to set up a railway system.
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By the year 1845 two companies were formed namely "East Indian Railway Company" and "Great Indian Peninsula Railway".
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On 16 April 1853, the first train in India ran between Bori Bunder, Bombay (Mumbai) and Thane, a distance of about 34 km.
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In 1880 a network of about 14,500 km was developed around the three major port cities of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta.
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In 1901, the Railway Board was formed under the guidance of the Department of Commerce and Industry.
