The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cleared Railway projects worth Rs 10,736 crore for improving infrastructure. The projects, including three for doubling of existing rail lines and two for laying a third rail line on busy routes are in various states, including poll bound Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
In Gujarat the CCEA has given approval for doubling of Surendranagar-Rajkot project at an estimated cost of Rs 1,002.39 crore with expected completion cost of Rs 1,137.17 crore with 5 per cent escalation per annum. The length of the railway line will be 116.17 kms. The completion period of the project will be four years. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has said that the doubling of this line will greatly ease the ever increasing freight traffic between Okha-Rajkot, Porbandar-Kanalus, Veraval-Rajkot and Maliya Maiyana - Navalakhi-Dahinsara-Wankaner sections.
In UP approval was given for the doubling of Roza-Sitapur Cantt-Burhwal broad gauge single line project at an estimated cost of Rs 1,295.42 crore with expected completion cost of Rs 1,486.46 crore with 5 per cent escalation per annum. The length of the railway line will be 180.77 kms and the completion period of the project will be five years.
CCEA also gave its nod for doubling of Pune-Miraj-Londa railway line in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs 3,627.47 crore and expected completion cost of Rs 4,246.84 crore in five years keeping in view the 5 per cent escalation per annum.The length of the railway line will be 467 kms. Approval for the Vizianagaram and Titlagarh third line project too was given at an estimated cost of Rs 2,335.68 crore. The length of the railway line will be 264.6 kms and the completion period of the project will be five years.