The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a series of major infrastructure and policy decisions, including investments in railways, urban transport, and aviation, with a total financial outlay of Rs 12,236
crore.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Cabinet cleared the doubling of the Gondia-Jabalpur rail line at an estimated cost of Rs 5,236 crore. It also approved the 3rd and 4th rail line project between Punarkh and Kiul, with an investment of Rs 2,668 crore, and the construction of the 3rd and 4th line between Gamharia and Chandil, costing Rs 1,168 crore.
Boosting aviation infrastructure, the Cabinet approved a new integrated airport terminal at Srinagar, with a project cost of Rs 1,667 crore. The Cabinet also sanctioned the extension of Phase 2B of the Ahmedabad Metro project, allocating Rs 1,067 crore to strengthen urban connectivity.
On the policy side, the Cabinet approved reforms in the power sector and sanctioned the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for raw jute, which has a financial implication of Rs 430 crore. The meeting also approved the renaming of the state of Kerala to Keralam.
This was the first Cabinet meeting held at the new Prime Minister’s Office, ‘Seva Teerth’, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Vaishnaw called the meeting and the new building as “a direct expression of the reconstruction of New India,” noting that the site was once temporary barracks from the British era.
He said, “The establishment of an active institution of national governance at that location is also a symbol of the transformation of New India.”
Vaishnaw further emphasised the Cabinet’s commitment to the long-term vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, saying the decisions taken today would shape the nation for future generations. “This is a long-term national journey, in which the decisions taken today will determine the future shape of the coming generations,” he added.
(With inputs from ANI)
