Current Context : The Union Cabinet approved eight new railway projects at an estimated cost of ₹24,657 crore to provide connectivity, facilitate ease of travelling, minimise logistics cost, reduce oil imports and lower carbon dioxide emissions.

• The projects cover 14 districts in the seven States of Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana and West Bengal.
• It will increase the existing network of the railways by 900 km.
• 64 new stations will be constructed providing enhanced connectivity to six ‘aspirational districts’ (East Singhbum, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, and Rayagada) covering approximately 510 villages and comprising about 40 lakh population.
• The projects are a result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity.