The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three major infrastructure projects across India.
These projects aim to improve transportation networks, reduce travel time, and facilitate faster movement of goods and passengers. The Cabinet has sanctioned the development of a 4-lane highway corridor between Badvel and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. The project, estimated at ₹3,653 crore, will be executed under the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) model. The 108-kilometre corridor will connect Gopavaram Village in YSR Kadapa District to the Krishnapatnam Port Junction on National Highway-16. This strategic initiative aims to bolster industrial connectivity in the region and support economic growth.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, highlighted that the project will reduce the distance between Badvel and Krishnapatnam Port by 33.90 kilometres, from 142 km to 108 km. Additionally, the journey time is expected to decrease by one hour, from 2.5 hours to 1.5 hours, thereby alleviating congestion on existing National Highways 67 and 16. In Maharashtra, the Cabinet has approved the four-laning of the 135-kilometre Wardha-Ballarshah rail line at an estimated cost of ₹2,381 crore. This project is part of the Delhi-Chennai trunk corridor and aims to enhance railway capacity and efficiency in the region. The expansion will facilitate the faster movement of freight and passengers, contributing to the overall economic development of Maharashtra.
The project is expected to be completed by the fiscal year 2029-30 and will improve the transport of commodities such as coal, cement, gypsum, agricultural items, and petroleum products. The capacity augmentation works are anticipated to result in an additional freight traffic of 18.40 million tonnes per annum. In Madhya Pradesh, the Cabinet has approved the construction of the third and fourth lines on the 41-kilometre Ratlam-Nagda section at an estimated cost of ₹1,018 crore. Ratlam is a crucial junction linking North (Nagda), South (Vadodara), East (Indore), and West (Chittorgarh). The additional lines aim to enhance connectivity to west coast ports for Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.
The project is expected to improve passenger and freight movement, reduce logistics costs, and minimize carbon dioxide emissions. It will also support the transport of goods like containers, coal, cement, and agricultural products, reinforcing the railways’ role in sustainable and efficient transportation. These infrastructure projects underscore the government’s commitment to strengthening transportation networks across the country. By improving connectivity and reducing travel time, these initiatives are expected to boost economic activities, enhance regional development, and contribute to the overall growth of India.
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