Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 18: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Narendra Modi, has approved two major railway multitracking projects worth Rs 24,815 crore aimed at strengthening connectivity and boosting freight capacity across Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

The project will add around 601 km to the Indian Railways network. These include the 403-km Ghaziabad–Sitapur third and fourth line project and the 198-km Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu)–Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) expansion.

The Ghaziabad–Sitapur corridor, with an investment of Rs 14,926 crore, is a crucial segment of the Delhi–Guwahati High Density Network. It is expected to significantly improve connectivity between northern and eastern India while easing congestion. The route passes through key industrial hubs such as Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Bareilly, and Shahjahanpur, known for industries ranging from electronics and pharmaceuticals to handicrafts and textiles.

To streamline operations, the plan includes bypassing congested stations like Hapur, Rampur, and Sitapur, along with the construction of six new stations on diversion routes.

The second project, valued at Rs 9,889 crore, is part of the quadrupling of the busy Howrah–Chennai corridor. Covering districts such as East Godavari, Konaseema, Kakinada, Anakapalle, and Visakhapatnam, it is a key stretch of the East Coast Rail Corridor and primarily supports freight movement.

Both projects are expected to enhance transportation of essential commodities such as coal, cement, fertilizers, steel, and foodgrains, improving logistics efficiency nationwide.

Additionally, the expansions will improve access to major tourist and spiritual sites, including Dudheshwarnath Temple, Garhmukteshwar Ganga Ghat, Naimisharanya, Annavaram, Antarvedi, and Draksharamam.

The government said the projects are part of a broader push to modernize rail infrastructure, reduce congestion, and support economic growth by improving connectivity across key regions of the country.