Context:
Union Cabinet Approves ₹25,497 Crore for Railway Expansion and Border Village Development
Railway Projects: ₹18,658 Crore Investment
Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, these projects aim to strengthen railway infrastructure across Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, adding 1,247 km to the network.
Key Highlights:
- Coverage: 15 districts, 3,350 villages, and 4.7 million people.
- New Rail Lines:
- Sambalpur–Jarapda (3rd and 4th lines)
- Jharsuguda–Sason (3rd and 4th lines)
- Kharsia–Naya Raipur–Parmalaksa (5th and 6th lines)
- Gondia–Balharshah (doubling of lines)
- Significance:
- Improved mobility and service reliability
- Reduced congestion on some of Indian Railways’ busiest corridors
- Direct railway link to Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh—a major cement production hub
Vibrant Villages Programme-II: ₹6,839 Crore Allocation
Approved under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this fully government-funded initiative aims at border development and internal security enhancement.
Programme Objective:
- Improve living standards and livelihood in border villages
- Strengthen national integration and assist in border surveillance
- Curb trans-border crime and security threats
Focus States & Union Territories:
- Strategic Border Areas in:
- Northern & Northeastern States: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand
- Western States: Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan
- Eastern States: Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Implementation Period: FY 2025–26 to 2028–29
Monitoring Mechanism:
- A high-level committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary will oversee execution and performance of the programme.
These dual announcements underline the government’s commitment to:
- Modernizing transport infrastructure for economic growth
- Enhancing border area development to ensure national security and inclusive growth in remote areas
