New Delhi, Sep 10 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the doubling of the 177 km Bhagalpur-Dumka-Rampurhat railway line across Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal at a cost of Rs 3,169 crore.
This project aims to improve Indian Railways’ efficiency and reliability by easing operations and reducing congestion, particularly on busy sections. It aligns with the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan by enhancing multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency, providing seamless connectivity for people, goods, and services.
The project will also boost self-reliance and employment opportunities in the region, connecting approximately 441 villages and 28.72 lakh people, including three Aspirational Districts. As a crucial route for commodities like coal and cement, the capacity augmentation is expected to handle an additional 15 million tonnes of freight traffic annually.
Furthermore, the railways’ environmentally friendly nature will contribute to climate goals by reducing oil imports by approximately 5 crore litres and lowering CO2 emissions by 24 crore Kg, equivalent to planting one crore trees.
