Railway Projects Evaluated
During the session, NPG reviewed three significant railway projects from the Ministry of Railways (MoR), ensuring they align with PM GatiShakti principles of integrated multimodal infrastructure, last-mile connectivity, and a ‘Whole of Government’ approach.
1. Barbenda–Damrughutu Doubling & Damrughutu–Bokaro 3rd & 4th Line (West Bengal & Jharkhand)
This project aims to add a third and fourth line spanning 51.761 km to strengthen the existing Barbenda–Damrughutu–Bokaro Steel City corridor. Key elements include one major bridge, 18 minor bridges, one Road Under Bridge (RUB), and extension of level crossings. Five station yards will be upgraded, supporting industrial hubs such as Bokaro Steel Plant, Tata Steel, Dalmia Cement, and Hindustan Petroleum. The enhancement is expected to boost freight efficiency, reduce congestion, and reinforce industrial growth.
2. Jamalpur–Munger Sabdalpur Double Line with Ganga Bridge (Bihar)
The 15 km project involves constructing a double line, a bridge over the Ganga River, and a Jamalpur bypass line. Scheduled for completion by July 2030, this corridor will improve connectivity between North Bihar and southeastern Bihar/Jharkhand, linking industrial hubs like ITC Ltd., Jamalpur Railway Workshop, Kahalgaon Thermal Power Station, and Barauni Refinery. The project will enhance economic and social development, reduce transportation costs, and generate employment in industrial areas and railway operations.
3. Fourth Line between Santragachi–Panskura–Kharagpur (West Bengal)
This 110.919 km project aims to strengthen one of West Bengal’s most critical rail corridors, which handles heavy freight and passenger traffic. Infrastructure upgrades include 30 station yards, one major bridge, 15 major bridges, 100 minor bridges, and 12 RUBs. Freight volumes are projected to rise from 20.37 MTPA to 28.12 MTPA over 11 years. The expansion will ease congestion, enhance operational capacity, and improve rail transport efficiency.
Impact & Implementation
The evaluated projects are expected to significantly improve freight mobility, passenger convenience, and regional industrial competitiveness. By enhancing connectivity to economic and social nodes, these initiatives align with the national objective of integrated multimodal transport under PM GatiShakti.
The meeting was chaired by the Joint Secretary of Logistics, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), emphasizing the government’s commitment to seamless project execution and national infrastructure development.
