Modi OKs ₹9,450 crore railway projects to connect 6,448 villages

On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four Ministry of Railways projects costing ₹9,450 crore. These projects will increase track capacity by about 410 km across eight districts in West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, enhancing mobility and logistical efficiency under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Expected to be completed by 2030-31, they will connect around 6,448 villages with a population of about 60 lakhs and improve connectivity to several tourist destinations while facilitating transportation of goods like coal, iron ore, and foodgrains, generating an additional freight traffic of 76 million tonnes per annum.