Cabinet clears three rail connectivity projects

New Delhi: The cabinet Thursday approved new rail line projects worth over Rs.2,300 crore, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said. "The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the three projects...we hope to complete the projects in five years," Bansal told reporters after the cabinet meeting. Two projects are in the virgin coal belt in Chhattisgarh and will help bridge the gap between demand and supply in western parts of the country, the minister said. The third is in Gujarat. The first project is a new 121-km broad gauge line between Gevra Road and Pendra Road in South East Central railway at a cost of Rs.838 crore. The second project relates to connecting the coal belt of Raigarh to Bhupdeopur, covering 63 km, at a cost of Rs.379 crore.

The third project covers 247 km of doubling broad gauge line between Palanpur and Samakhiali in Kutch area of Gujarat. Bansal said this route, which is also a feeder route to the Delhi-Mumbai dedicated freight corridor being planned, will provide smooth passage of goods and passenger trains in the section. IANS