Union Cabinet has greenlit two major railway doubling projects in Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, with a combined investment of ₹6,405 crore. These infrastructure upgrades are expected to streamline freight transport, ease passenger congestion, and sharply reduce the railway network’s carbon footprint across these three states.
The projects — Koderma to Barkakana in Jharkhand and Ballari to Chikjajur in Karnataka — will add a combined length of 318 kilometres to the existing railway network. Announcing the development, senior railway officials confirmed that both projects are targeted for completion within three years, reflecting the Centre’s focus on fast-tracked, low-emission infrastructure growth.The 133-kilometre Koderma–Barkakana stretch, sanctioned at ₹3,063 crore, is especially critical for Jharkhand. Acting as the shortest rail route between Patna and Ranchi, the line will serve over 1.5 million residents spread across four districts. By easing passenger loads and accommodating higher freight volumes, the project is positioned to improve mobility in a region that remains vital to the mineral economy and inter-state trade corridors.
This railway corridor includes 17 major bridges, 180 minor bridges, 42 road over bridges, and 13 road under bridges — making it an ambitious engineering initiative that merges connectivity with safety and efficiency. Once operational, the Koderma–Barkakana line is projected to handle an additional 30.4 million tonnes of cargo annually. Crucially, it will also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 163 crore kilograms per year and save 32 crore litres of diesel — a pivotal gain in the journey toward decarbonising India’s logistics landscape.In southern India, the Ballari–Chikjajur doubling project has been cleared with an allocation of ₹3,342 crore. This 185-kilometre line enhances the strategic linkage between Mangaluru Port and the key freight hub of Secunderabad. Currently burdened by high traffic volumes, the upgraded route is expected to ease the movement of industrial goods, especially iron ore and steel — commodities central to Karnataka’s economic output.
This southern railway corridor includes the construction of 19 stations, 29 major bridges, 230 minor bridges, 21 road over bridges, and 85 road under bridges, demonstrating the scale and significance of the civil infrastructure involved. Railway officials stated that the enhanced line capacity will not only expedite freight but also open up new passenger transit opportunities, improving overall transport equity in the region.The green footprint of both projects aligns with India’s broader climate commitments. By replacing diesel-heavy, road-based cargo systems with efficient electrified rail movement, the projects are poised to play a critical role in the country’s carbon neutrality roadmap. Additionally, the projects are expected to generate substantial direct and indirect employment opportunities during the construction phase, offering socio-economic benefits to local populations.
As the government continues to emphasise infrastructure as a vehicle for growth, the integration of environmental targets with development goals sends a strong signal about the future of mobility in India. Both these railway lines, while addressing regional challenges, represent a forward-looking model of how infrastructure investments can be both growth-oriented and green.
While questions remain about future expansions and electrification coverage across adjoining corridors, the current approvals represent a meaningful step forward — offering tangible benefits in capacity, connectivity, and carbon reduction.
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