The Cabinet had approved the Jamshedpur-Purulia-Asansol 3rd Line Project earlier this week, a major infrastructure initiative designed to significantly enhance rail connectivity between West Bengal and Jharkhand. Stretching 121 kilometers and with a budget of Rs 2,170 crore, this ambitious project is slated for completion within five years.
The new third line will strengthen a vital railway corridor through Purulia and Bardhaman districts in West Bengal and East Singhbhum in Jharkhand.
17 railway stations in West Bengal, 2 in Jharkhand
This rail line will feature 17 stations in West Bengal and 2 in Jharkhand, alongside the construction of 18 major bridges and 142 minor bridges.
This upgrade will enhance connectivity with key trunk routes such as Delhi-Howrah and Howrah-Mumbai, expediting the transport of iron ore and coal to steel plants in Burnpur and Durgapur, and facilitating the movement of finished steel.
The project will also improve access to attractions like Maithan Dam and pilgrimage sites such as Kalyaneswari Temple.
PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan
Additionally, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sanctioned two other railway projects totaling Rs 6,456 crore, scheduled for completion by 2028-29. These projects, part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, will expand the Indian Railways network by approximately 300 kilometers, covering seven districts across Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh.
The approved projects are anticipated to generate around 114 lakh man-days of employment during construction, enhance logistical efficiency, and improve connectivity for approximately 1,300 villages, benefiting a population of nearly 30 lakh. The capacity expansion will support an additional freight traffic of 45 million tonnes per annum, fostering economic growth and supply chain efficiency.