New Line between Errupalem and Namburu
The second project involves the construction of a new 57 km line between Errupalem and Namburu in Andhra Pradesh. These projects will create around 106 lakh direct employment opportunities. Eight districts in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Bihar will benefit from these projects, adding 313 km to Indian Railways’ existing network. According to the Cabinet, “These projects will improve logistics efficiency by connecting unconnected regions. The existing line capacity will increase, and the transportation network will expand, resulting in a more efficient supply chain and faster economic growth.”
Increased Connectivity in Bihar
The doubling of the Naraktiganj-Raxaul-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga and Sitamarhi-Muzaffarpur sections will increase connectivity for Nepal, Northeast India, and border areas. The movement of goods trains and passenger trains will also become easier, leading to social and economic development in the region. The multi-tracking project will increase connectivity for two important districts (Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur), benefiting 388 villages and around 9 lakh people. The CCEA stated, “These routes are essential for the transportation of agricultural products, fertilizers, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, and other goods. The capacity increase will result in an additional 31 MTPA (million tons per annum) of freight traffic.” Note that the Errupalem-Amaravati-Namburu rail line project passes through Andhra Pradesh’s NTR Vijayawada and Guntur districts and Telangana’s Khammam district. The new line project will provide connectivity to 168 villages and around 12 lakh people with nine new stations. The Cabinet said, “The new line will provide a direct connection to Andhra Pradesh’s proposed capital Amaravati and improve mobility for industries and the population, resulting in better efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways.”