The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved a new railway line between Bahraich and Khalilabad (in Uttar Pradesh) with an estimated project cost of ₹4,939.78 crore.
The total length of the new broad gauge line will be 240.26 km, an official statement said.
The new line, which will cross towns such as Bhigna, Shravastk, Balrampur, Utraula, Domariyaganj, Mehdawal and Bansi, is expected to be completed by 2024-25. Stating that the project will generate direct employment of about 57.67 lakh man-days during construction, the government said the new line would provide basic infrastructure support for industrial development having large socio-economic ramification.
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“It will provide a direct broad gauge route to the project area which may boost the economic development of the region. This will also provide an alternative route of Bahraich-Khalilabad and connect border districts to each other,” it added.
“Four districts falling in this project length i.e. Bahraich, Balrampur, Shravasti and Siddharth Nagar are among the 115 aspirational districts identified by the NITI Aayog. Hence, this project is needed for better socio-economic development of the hinterland of this area with the help of rail network,” the statement said.