Summary：The Government of India has approved three projects with a combined value of Rs60.11bn ($872.5m) to boost railway...

The Government of India has approved three projects with a combined value of Rs60.11bn ($872.5m) to boost railway connectivity in Uttar Pradesh and Assam.

The projects received the green light from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

The first project encompasses building a third railway line between Allahabad and Mughalsarai in Uttar Pradesh. The construction of the 150km-long line is estimated to cost Rs26.49bn ($384.57m) and is expected to be finished by 2024.

Once complete, the project will help to tackle the growth of traffic and eliminate capacity constraints.

The second project, also in Uttar Pradesh, involves the construction of an 81.17km-long railway line between Sahjanwa and Dohrighat.

Also expected to be completed by 2024, the project will boost transportation in the region, which is poorly connected by road.

Construction of the rail line is also expected to help small-scale industries in the region to flourish. It is estimated to cost Rs13.2bn ($191.56m).

Additionally, the new line will help to create an alternate route connecting Chhapra to Lucknow, avoiding congestion at Gorakhpur.

The third project in Assam includes doubling Northeast Frontier Railway’s ‘New Bongaigaon-Agthori’ line, which passes through Rangiya.

Estimated to cost Rs20.43bn ($296.47m), the 142.97km-long project will be completed by 2023.

The project was approved because railway traffic on this section is set to increase in future. The doubling works will help to mitigate existing capacity constraints and help to increase freight and passenger traffic on the line.