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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
the Cabinet has approved a series of projects worth over ₹200,000 crore in the past three months. These initiatives are aimed at enhancing connectivity, boosting employment, and fostering economic growth across various sectors, including airports, metro rail, national highways, ports, and green energy, aligning with the government’s vision of a developed India.
NEW DELHI: In a significant boost to the nation’s infrastructure, the Cabinet has approved a series of projects worth over ₹200,000 crore in the past three months. These initiatives are aimed at enhancing connectivity, boosting employment, and fostering economic growth across various sectors, including airports, metro rail, national highways, ports, and green energy, aligning with the government’s vision of a developed India.
Among the key projects is the development of the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, which has been allocated ₹2,870 crores and is expected to generate 34 lakh mandays of employment. Mandays of employment refer to the total number of days worked by a group of individuals. It’s often used in labour statistics, project planning, or government programs. To calculate mandays, multiply the number of workers by the number of days they worked.
A major greenfield port is also set to be established at Vadhavan near Dahanu in Maharashtra at a cost of ₹76,220 crore, projected to create 12 lakh jobs and significantly enhance India’s maritime infrastructure. Additionally, the government has sanctioned eight national high-speed road corridors covering 936 km at an estimated cost of ₹50,655 crores, which will generate 4.4 crore mandays of employment.
Eleven railway projects, including the construction of new lines and multi-tracking across 1,088 km, will receive ₹31,113 crores, supporting the creation of 4.1 crore mandays of employment. Metro rail expansions in Bangalore, Thane, and Pune, costing ₹30,766 crores, are also set to ease urban commutes and reduce traffic congestion while creating 1.5 crore mandays of employment. In line with sustainable energy goals, ₹7,453 crore has been approved for offshore wind energy projects.
Further, the Cabinet has greenlighted the development of 12 industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme with an investment of ₹28,602 crore. These cities will be developed using the PM GatiShakti principles and will feature a plug-and-play industrial ecosystem designed to create up to 40 lakh jobs and attract investments worth ₹1.5 lakh crore.
In the agricultural sector, the government has expanded the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, focusing on post-harvest facilities such as cold storage, pack houses, and refrigerated vehicles. Moreover, an allocation of ₹4,136 crore has been made to support the development of hydroelectric projects in the Northeast, harnessing the region’s hydroelectric potential of 62 GW to contribute to clean energy goals.
In a bid to enhance local communication and entertainment, the government has approved the expansion of FM radio to 234 new cities across 26 states and Union Territories, including underserved Tier II and III cities. This initiative will provide localized content and entertainment, promoting local talent and further connecting communities.
