Cargo Breaking News
The government has approved the railways’ proposal to increase the train speed on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes to 160 kmph. The two routes together account for 20 per cent of freight traffic and 29 per cent of passenger traffic. This could reduce the travel time by 3.5 hours and five hours respectively, making them overnight journeys. The decisions were taken during this Cabinet meeting that the decisions on Kashmir were discussed with Union ministers.
Increasing the speed of the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah sections to 160 kmph will ensure up to 60 per cent increase in average speed of passenger trains and doubling of average speed of freight traffic.
As a part of the Ministry’s 100-day agenda, the Delhi-Mumbai project will cost INR 6,806 crore while the Delhi-Howrah project will cost INR 6,685 crores. The project is set to be completed by 2022-23. Apart from this, the ministry also plans on constructing a new line between Vaibhavwadi and Kolhapur (now Shri Chhatrapati Shahumaharaj Terminus) with an estimated cost of INR 3,439 crore. The project will be executed by Construction Organization of Central Railway and is expected to be completed by 2023-24.
