CCEA nod to 3 railway projects
New Delhi: To boost the rail connectivity at the busiest zones and to divert the railway traffic, the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the three important projects, covering Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam on Wednesday.
The Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the construction of a third broad gauge rail line between Allahabad - Mughalsarai (now Pt. DeenDayal Upadhyaya Jn.) covering 150 km with an estimated cost of Rs. 2649.44 crore and completion cost 2890 crore. It aims to complete in the next five years and will be executed by the Construction Organization of North Central.
The stretch will cover 21 railway stations and a freight corridor will be established, the rail minister Piyush Goyal mentioned while briefing to media persons. The estimated cost includes Rs. 237 core for the Yamuna over bridge in between the route and Rs. 96 core for the Tons river over bridge, a rail official said.
"At the present number of passenger and goods trains in this section are far more than its capacity, resulting in heavy detention to trains. This project will enhance capacity, reduce detention and cater for the future growth of traffic... will also ease traffic congestion at Chheoki, Naini and improve the punctuality of goods and passenger trains on the vital route connecting National capital," an official release mentioned.
The second important project is 81.17 km long new rail line construction between Sahjanwa to Dohrighat. This project estimates Rs. 1319.75crore, with the complete cost of Rs. 1442 crore with four years' time target. A ministry source mentioned that 364 ha land is needed for the project.
"The portion of the new rail line mostly lies in Gorakhpur district and a very small area in Mau district in Uttar Pradesh. Indara-Dohrighat gauge conversion has already been sanctioned and this approval for the new line. Further, provides an alternate route avoiding Gorakhpur," Goyal mentioned.
This line will connect Chhapra and Lucknow, avoiding congestion at Gorakhpur.
The last important rail line project is the doubling of New Bongaigaon to Agthori via Rangiyarailway line of 142.97 km. Importantly, the minister in his briefing mentioned that the project will generate about 90- 100 lakh mandays.
The entire estimated cost would be 2248 crore (completion cost) with a timeline of four years. 131 rail bridges will be constructed and the line will help to connect with the Bogibil bridge.
"The line capacity utilization of the section between New Bongaigaon and Agthori via Rangiya is more than 100 per cent. Traffic on this section will further increase as Rangiya-Murkongselek broad gauge line and Bogibeel Bridge new line has been commissioned recently will be connected," the ministry statement mentioned.
Moreover, the ministry data shows that 3595 km rail network has been added to the broad gauge in the last year, whereas this year till the month of June 243 km has been added. The doubling work in 2018-2019 has been done in 2519 km. Besides, 473 km rail lines have been converted in broad gauge this year upto June.
