Cabinet nod for Indian Railways' line doubling projects: Freight traffic set to receive additional boost of 49 million tonnes annually
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved two line doubling projects of the Indian Railways, namely, the 133-km Koderma-Barkakana Doubling and the 185-km Ballari-Chikjajur Doubling, which cover a total of seven districts in Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The total estimated cost of the projects is Rs 6,405 crore.
The Koderma-Barkakana line passes through a major coal producing area of Jharkhand. Along with this, it serves as the shortest rail link between Patna and Ranchi. The cost of doubling of the line is Rs 2,063 crore.
According to the Ministry of Railways, line doubling will facilitate an additional cargo of 30.4 million tonnes (mt). It will connect four districts of Jharkhand, namely, Koderma, Chatra, Hazaribagh and Ramgarh.
The project will be challenging from an engineering point of view since it will involve the construction of 17 major bridges, 180 minor bridges, 42 road over bridges (ROBs) and 13 road under bridges (RUBs). The project will provide connectivity to over 900 villages, the Indian Railways said.
The second project Ballari-Chikjajur line crosses Ballari and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka and Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The total cost of the project is Rs 3,342 crore.
According to the Indian Railways, the doubling of the rail line will facilitate the movement of additional cargo of 18.9 mt. It will cater to transport of iron ore, coking coal, finished steel, fertilisers, foodgrains, and petroleum products, among other items.
The 185-km project will involve the construction of 19 stations, 29 major bridges, 230 minor bridges, 21 ROBs and 85 RUBs. The line will connect over 400 villages on the stretch.
These two projects together will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 318 km and additional freight traffic of 49 mt per annum.
Dheeraj Mishra is a Principal correspondent with The Indian Express, Business Bureau. He covers India's two key ministries- Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. He frequently uses the Right to Information (RTI) Act for his stories, which have resulted in many impactful reports. ... Read More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
New dispute breaks out between GIPE & parent body SIS over financial control
Pune: Tensions between Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) and its parent body, Servants of India Society (SIS), flared up once again after both indulged in allegations and counter-allegations related to a bank account. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now At a press conference on Thursday, GIPE's officiating deputy registrar Vishal Gaikwad, accused SIS of wrongdoing, including freezing its account. However, SIS president Damodar Sahoo, who later met reporters, countered the charges. Gaikwad said, "We came to know 3-4 days ago that Sahoo wrote to the bank to freeze the account from which the staff salaries are disbursed. But we met the bank's officials and made it operational." Sahoo, on the other hand, stated that it was a joint account with two signatories, SIS and GIPE. However, GIPE had removed SIS's signatory without any prior notification. He said, "Hence, we wrote to the bank to freeze the account to know what happened as this has been a joint account since inception and there have always been two signatories and one cannot randomly delete one signatory." In April, an FIR was lodged by GIPE against SIS's former secretary Milind Deshmukh, accusing him of misappropriating funds worth Rs 1.42 crore. Gaikwad said that he wrote to the police asking them to add Sahoo's name to the FIR. Sahoo said he has no information about GIPE's letter, nor have the police contacted him. In view of their allegations against SIS of misusing GIPE funds, Gaikwad said that the institute wrote to the charity commissioner requesting suspension of the SIS leadership and appointment of an administrator. Sahoo alleged that GIPE has no right to make such a demand since SIS is its parent body. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A few months ago, SIS had accused interim VC Shankar Das of allegedly bypassing procedures in faculty and staff recruitment at GIPE which escalated to the SIS removing Sanjeev Sanyal as chancellor and appointing an interim chancellor. Sanyal hit back, alleging lack of transparency in financial transactions of SIS. In a series of posts on X, Sanyal said that JNU vice-chancellor Santishree Pandit will inquire into the allegations against Das after which Sahoo called it all a misunderstanding and Sanyal was reinstated. Pandit's committee, which comprised two more members from SPPU, conducted an inquiry and gave a clean chit to the recruitment process taken up by Das. She said, "We had two online meetings and one in-person meeting at GIPE. We looked at all the documents and found that no rules of UGC or the state govt were flouted during the appointments made during Das's tenure. Sahoo withdrew his complaint against Das. A public notice was issued requesting submission of any evidence related to the complaint before the committee. However, Sahoo did not present or submit any documents before the committee. None of the allegations could stand scrutiny, and the process documents proved beyond doubt that all rules and regulations were followed." Pandit added that there was another complaint from a faculty member at GIPE alleging irregularities in the appointments. "We admitted the complaint and went through its allegations. We also gave the professor a fair hearing. However, since no rules were flouted, we gave a clean chit to Das and submitted the report to the chancellor a month and a half ago," she said. Sahoo said that he had not withdrawn the complaint, and was not called to give evidence. "I have not even been given a copy of the report nor was my side heard," he added. The SIS president said an advisory body was created to bridge the souring relationship between GIPE and SIS and keep communication channels open. However, Gaikwad said there is no provision for such a committee in SIS's byelaws. New VC Soon Both Gaikwad and Sahoo confirmed that the selection process for a new vice-chancellor for Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics has been completed and the institute will soon have a new head. Sahoo said, "I am very hopeful that under able leadership and guidance, our new VC will shoulder the responsibility of GIPE and render his best services for all-round development of the institute and re-establish a cordial relationship between SIS and GIPE."
The Print
19 minutes ago
- The Print
NDMC approves key civic, energy and cultural projects to boost smart city goals
The council gave the green light to procure 120 MW of renewable energy from NHPC Ltd at Rs 4.62 per unit (including trading margin) for 25 years, a move that aligns with NDMC's green energy transition and aims to meet its peak electricity demand, an official statement from the NDMC said. The approvals spanned areas such as renewable energy, smart utilities, sanitation, flood management and cultural development. New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) In a stride towards sustainability, smart infrastructure and enhanced civic services, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Thursday cleared several high-impact proposals during its council meeting. Simultaneously, projects worth over Rs 40 crore were approved for upgrading electricity and water metering systems in the NDMC area, it added. To improve water management, the council approved a Rs 30.84 crore project for installing over 15,000 smart water meters, replacing faulty or mechanical ones. For electricity, Rs 4.56 crore was sanctioned to replace ageing meters with smart versions, ensuring better monitoring and billing. 'This will not only improve utility efficiency and reduce losses, but also empower citizens with real-time data and usage insights,' the statement said. Flood preparedness and sanitation also found priority in the meeting, with the NDMC approving Rs 70.44 crore for desilting Sunehari nullah at Lodhi Road, to be executed by the DMRC. Additionally, Rs 5.20 crore was sanctioned for the procurement of hydraulic high-pressure jetting machines to improve drainage maintenance before the monsoon season. To facilitate better hygiene during large-scale public events, Rs 4.18 crore was approved for setting up mobile comfort stations and urinals in high-footfall areas of NDMC jurisdiction. In a bid to enhance Delhi's cultural footprint, the council endorsed the allocation of 1 per cent of its annual budget to arts and culture. The NDMC Urban Arts and Culture Forum will utilise this fund to organise exhibitions, cultural festivals and community engagement programs. 'This marks a significant step in integrating art and public life, and promoting heritage and contemporary expression,' the statement added. Additionally, the council approved multiple employee welfare measures, including amendments to recruitment rules, relaxation of housing regularisation norms, and expansion of health allowances to medical officers and paramedical staff. The council noted that all proposals are in line with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat@2047', reinforcing NDMC's role as a model civic body for future-ready urban governance. PTI MHS RHL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Venkatappa Art Gallery reopens in Bengaluru after renovation
1 2 3 Bengaluru: The refurbished Venkatappa Art Gallery opened its doors to the public, after being closed for months for renovation, on Thursday, aligning with its Golden Jubilee year. The gallery now features dedicated sections for two of Karnataka's most prominent artists, K Venkatappa and KK Hebbar. In addition, five mini galleries will host rotating exhibitions, providing a platform for emerging and contemporary artists. A curated book store has also been introduced, offering literature on art, culture, and Karnataka's heritage, supporting scholars and local authors alike. On the first floor, visitors can explore 58 artworks by Venkatappa, 15 art certificates and musical notations, five pop relief pieces, 219 personal objects, including tools and two medals, 122 books, nine photographs, six veenas, and two sculptures, bringing the total to 436 objects. The second floor is dedicated to 68 works of KK Hebbar, and the corridors across both floors feature 26 sculptures by Rajaram. A key addition is a state-of-the-art restoration room, where conservators can work to preserve both traditional and modern artworks. Visitors can observe the process for deeper understanding of artistic preservation. Other new features include a sculpture park, a modern cafeteria above the auditorium, and enhanced social spaces. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Accessibility of the gallery has been improved with ramps, elevators, clear signage, and redesigned pathways, making it inclusive and user-friendly for all visitors. The gallery was inaugurated by law minister HK Patil. "Bengaluru is more than Brigade Road. It's our duty to show our children what Bengaluru actually is. Places like Venkatappa Art Gallery hold our heritage. By taking up projects like this, our department wants to promote tourism and bring culture to the forefront," he said. Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said, "The country's asset is its culture and heritage, and we should respect the tradition and show legacy to our children." MR Jaishankar, executive chairman of Brigade Group and lifetime trustee of Brigade Foundation, said: "Art has the power to tell stories, bring people together, and shape society, and we must protect and nurture spaces that allow such expressions to thrive. We envisioned the renovated space not only as a tribute to its legacy, but also as an evolving platform where emerging artists can find inspiration and recognition. " The initiative, led by Brigade Foundation, began in March 2024, and cost Rs 10 crore. The focus was on reinforcing the building's structure, while upgrading exhibition areas, public amenities, and accessibility features. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
