Cabinet okays 2 multitracking railway projects

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared two crucial railway multi-tracking projects spanning seven districts across Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The Rs 6,405-crore investment will add 318 km to the country’s rail network, promising improved connectivity, reduced logistics costs and lower carbon emissions through more efficient rail operations.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the 133 km Koderma-Barkakana doubling project, which cuts through Jharkhand’s coal belt. It will create the shortest rail link between Patna and Ranchi. The second project involves doubling the 185 km Ballari-Chikjajur section connecting Karnataka’s Ballari and Chitradurga districts with Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district.

Local trains with automatic doors soon

New Delhi: In the aftermath of the recent Mumbai local train mishap — where four people died after falling from overcrowded trains — the Railway Ministry is working on new coach models for non-AC local trains featuring automatic doors and improved ventilation, highly placed sources said. These upgraded coaches are expected to be introduced from January 2026 onwards, the sources added. The new trains will have automatic doors that open and close when the train arrives at or departs from a station, and the models will be rolled out nationwide. Ventilation units will be installed on the roofs of each compartment to pump in fresh air, they further informed.

These capacity enhancement projects will transform regional connectivity for 1,408 villages housing 28.19 lakh residents and give a boost to freight movement of critical commodities including coal, iron ore, steel, cement, fertilisers and petroleum products. The upgrades are expected to add 49 million tonnes of annual freight capacity, easing congestion and improving operational efficiency across these vital rail corridors.

Bullet train trial run likely in 2027

New Delhi: The trial run of the NDA government’s ambitious but much-delayed bullet train project may begin in 2027, though there is no finality regarding the timeline as of now, sources aware of the development said. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project, has faced several delays ever since it was launched in 2017, with acquisition of land being one of the key obstacles before its commencement.