Bahraich-Khalilabad railway line approved

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a new railway line between two Uttar Pradesh's towns of Bahraich and Khalilabad.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the new line, which will start from Bahraich and pass through Bhinga, Shravasti, Balrampur, Utraula, Domariyaganj, Mehdawal and Bansi before ending at Khalilabad.

The length of the new Broad Gauge line will be 240.26 kilometres and would cost Rs 4,939.78 crore.

"The total estimated cost will be Rs 4,939.78 crore and work will be completed by 2024-2025," Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.

This project is expected to generate huge employment opportunities in the region.

The new proposed line is aimed at providing a direct broad gauge route to the project areas, which may boost economic development. It will also provide an alternative route of Bahraich-Khalilabad and connect border districts to each other.

The approved line will also promote tourism in the region and will also help to grow small-scale industries in the area.

Four districts falling in this project length - Bahraich, Balrampur, Shravasti and Siddharth Nagar - are among the 115 aspirational districts identified by NITI Aayog.