Zirakpur Bypass, Railway Doubling and Irrigation Overhaul: Cabinet's Big Push for Growth
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Three important projects were approved in the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. These include construction of Zirakpur bypass, doubling of Tirupati-Pakala-Katpadi single railway line and modernization of water management under the Agricultural Irrigation Scheme. The aim of these projects is to improve the state's traffic facilities, better use of water resources and promote economic development.
The Cabinet approved the construction of Zirakpur Bypass located in Punjab and Haryana. The bypass will be six-lane and will have a total length of 19.2 km. The project is important for promoting the development of integrated transport infrastructure under the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The bypass will start from the junction of NH-7 (Zirakpur-Patiala) and go up to the junction of NH-5 (Zirakpur-Parwanoo). Its construction will avoid the highly urbanized and congested areas of Zirakpur and Panchkula. The project will provide direct connectivity to Himachal Pradesh by diverting traffic coming from Patiala, Delhi, Mohali Aerocity, thereby reducing traffic congestion in these areas. The total cost of the project has been fixed at Rs 1,878.31 crore. It aims to reduce travel time and ensure seamless movement of traffic on main urban routes.
Apart from this, the cabinet also approved the doubling of Tirupati-Pakala-Katpadi single railway line between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The project will cost Rs 1,332 crore and aims to improve the speed and service of trains by increasing the line capacity of the railways. This doubling project will ensure the development of necessary infrastructure in one of the busiest sections of Indian Railways, which will improve passenger and freight transportation. Completion of this project will increase the efficiency of the railways and improve the service reliability of Indian Railways, which will provide new employment and self-employment opportunities to the local people.
The third important project is the modernization of water management under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. The scheme has been approved for the period 2025-2026, and its initial total cost is Rs 1,600 crore. The project aims to modernize the existing irrigation network and provide micro-irrigation facilities to farmers. SCADA and Internet of Things technology will be used for water management, which will improve the efficiency of water use. The scheme will increase agricultural production and productivity, which will increase the income of farmers and help them make better use of water resources. Through these projects, the priority of the government is to develop infrastructure in the country, make better use of water resources and accelerate economic growth.
