by Suresh PD Nikhar
RNS : In a landmark decision, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved eight significant railway projects with a combined investment of approximately Rs 24,657 crore.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced the approval during a recent video conference from the Railway Board, highlighting a series of transformative initiatives set to reshape India’s railway infrastructure.
One of the standout projects involves the construction of a new rail bridge over the Ganga River near Bhagalpur in Bihar. This project will see the development of a 26 km rail line connecting Vikramshila to Kataria, with an estimated cost of Rs 2,549 crore. A key feature will be a 2.44 km double-line bridge across the Ganga, aimed at easing the congestion on the current three bridges spanning the river, which cover roughly 450 km from Buxar to Rajmahal.
The new bridge is expected to significantly improve connectivity between North Bihar, West Bengal, and Northeast India with South Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha. The Vikramshila-Kataria line will include a Y-shaped bridge connecting Kataria and Navgachiya in the north with Vikramshila and Shivnarayanpur in the south. This infrastructure will directly link Bihar’s Kosi and Seemanchal regions with the Ang region and is projected to be completed by 2030-31.
In addition to enhancing connectivity, the project is anticipated to create 22 lakh man-days of employment and reduce carbon emissions by 95 crore kg—equivalent to the environmental benefit of approximately 3.8 crore trees.
The eight projects, which will span 14 districts across seven states—Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, and West Bengal—will extend the Indian Railways network by 900 kilometers. These developments are poised to boost direct connectivity and improve the efficiency and reliability of rail services.
This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a “New India” and aims to promote regional development, self-reliance, and employment opportunities. The projects are part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity, which seeks to integrate planning and streamline the movement of people, goods, and services across the country.
