Guwahati: In a significant push to India's railway infrastructure and inter-regional connectivity, the Union Cabinet has sanctioned three critical rail doubling projects exceeding over Rs 6,400 crore. The showstopper among them is the much-awaited doubling of the Silchar rail line in Assam, a strategic logistics corridor linking the Barak Valley with Tripura, Mizoram, and Manipur.
Silchar, a strategic node in southern Assam, is a key element in connecting the Northeast to mainland India and beyond. Doubling of this line, which policymakers have long advocated for, will shorten travel time, increase freight efficiency, and give the region a much-needed logistical spine. It is also identified as part of the Centre's Act East strategy, enhancing connectivity towards Southeast Asia.
In addition to Silchar, two other major projects were cleared, the Koderma–Barkakana (Arigada) line in Jharkhand and the Ballari–Chikjajur line across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The Rs 3,063 crore Koderma–Barkakana project spreads over 133 km and will benefit 15 lakh people in four districts. It has massive bridgework and will decongest freight routes while reducing 163 crore kg of CO₂ and 32 crore litres of diesel every year.
The Rs 3,342-crore Ballari–Chikjajur line, with a length of 185 km, will connect major industrial areas and improve the lives of 13 lakh people in three districts. The corridor is essential for carrying iron ore, steel, and petroleum products, and is expected to save 101 crore kg of CO₂ and 20 crore litres of diesel annually.
Combined, the projects represent a landmark moment in India's journey towards sustainable transport, with green savings equivalent to planting more than 11 crore trees every year and reinforcing the government's commitment to green growth and strong logistics.
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