New Delhi:The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved eight railway multitracking projects with a combined estimated cost of Rs 20,804 crore across nine states. The projects will add around 1,196 km to the existing Indian Railways network and are targeted for completion by 2029-30. The capacity expansion is expected to ease congestion, improve train movement and strengthen operational efficiency and service reliability on key passenger and freight corridors. Together, the projects will cover 31 districts and improve rail connectivity to around 6,911 villages with a combined population of nearly 1.08 crore. Continued on Page 7

BOOST TO AP

Renigunta, Arakkonam rail expansion gets approval

Hans News Service

Tirupati:The rail network serving Tirupati and its surrounding pilgrimage centres is set for a major capacity enhancement with the Union Cabinet approving the construction of third and fourth railway lines between Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu and Renigunta in Andhra Pradesh. Continued on Page 7