8 railway multi-tracking projects worth Rs 20,804 crore approved

NEW DELHI: Govt on Wednesday approved eight railway multi-tracking projects worth Rs 20,804 crore as part of a big push for faster movement of passengers and goods across its high-density networks.PM Narendra Modi said that these projects will “ensure stronger connectivity, faster passenger movement and lower logistics cost”.Announcing the decisions, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the multi-tracking projects -- doubling and the laying of third and fourth lines -- spanning 14 districts of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh; and 17 districts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana will increase the capacity of the eight lines for running passenger and freight trains. On completion of these projects by 2029-30, the railway network will increase by 1,196 km.