Cabinet greenlights Rs 1,365-Cr Rajkharsawan-Dangoaposi 4th rail line in Jharkhand

New Delhi/Jamshedpur: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the long-awaited Dangoaposi–Rajkharsawan 4th Line (75 km) project at an estimated cost of Rs 1,365 crore.

The project is part of a larger Rs 3,907-crore railway expansion package approved by the Union Cabinet, which includes two multi-tracking projects spanning four districts across Jharkhand and neighbouring Odisha. The entire expansion, adding 145 km to the Indian Railways network, is slated for completion by 2030-31.

The Rajkharsawan–Dangoaposi section is vital for Jharkhand’s mining and industrial sectors. Located in the mineral-rich Kolhan division, this route is heavily congested due to the non-stop movement of freight. The addition of a fourth line will drastically reduce bottlenecks, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the reliability of passenger and goods trains. The route serves as a corridor for transporting critical raw materials like iron ore, coal, dolomite, and limestone to major steel plants and industries across the country.

By shifting heavy freight traffic to railways, the twin projects are expected to save 6 crore litres of oil imports and reduce CO2 emissions by 29 crore kg nationally—the equivalent of planting 1 crore trees overall. For Jharkhand, this cabinet approval marks a crucial step toward modernizing its railway network, ensuring that the state’s immense mineral wealth translates into faster, cleaner, and more robust regional development.

The mega-rail project promises a transformative impact on the local population and regional ecology. The capacity expansion will significantly improve rail connectivity to scenic and culturally important destinations in the region, including the breathtaking Meghahatuburu Hills in West Singhbhum.

The twin railway projects will directly benefit approximately 1,526 villages with a combined population of over 14 lakh people, opening up new avenues for employment and self-employment under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Decongesting the tracks and shifting more freight from roads to eco-friendly rail transport will dramatically cut carbon emissions.

The Rajkharsawan–Dangoaposi 4th Line project alone is projected to yield environmental benefits equivalent to planting approximately 42 lakh trees, contributing heavily to the region’s climate goals by reducing carbon footprint and fuel dependency.

The projects have been mapped using the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, ensuring seamless multi-modal connectivity and minimizing logistics costs.