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The Union Cabinet and CCEA have approved three major infrastructure projects worth over INR 4,800 crore, focusing on agriculture and transport. The M-CADWM scheme under PMKSY, with INR 1,600 crore funding, aims to modernize irrigation through micro systems, starting with pilot projects across agro-climatic zones. In transport, a 19.2-km, six-lane bypass in Zirakpur (INR 1,878.31 crore) will ease regional congestion and improve connectivity to Himachal Pradesh. Additionally, the Tirupati-Pakala-Katpadi rail line will be doubled at a cost of INR 1,332 crore to boost freight movement. These projects promote sustainable development, reduce emissions, and align with India's long-term economic and environmental goals.
In a significant infrastructure push, the Union Cabinet and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) jointly approved three crucial projects spanning the agriculture and transport sectors. The total investment for these projects exceeds INR 4,800 crore. Advertisement
Among the cleared proposals is the Modernisation of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM), which will function as a sub-scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for the upcoming 2025-2026 financial period. With an initial funding of INR 1,600 crore, the scheme is geared towards upgrading existing irrigation systems to ensure efficient water delivery from established canals or other sources directly to the farm gate.
According to officials, the plan involves setting up micro irrigation infrastructure, including underground pressurised piped systems, to serve plots of up to one hectare. This initiative will initially be implemented as pilot projects across different agro-climatic zones, with States being selected through challenge-based funding. Insights gained from these pilots will feed into the formulation of a National Plan for Command Area Development and Water Management, which is set to be rolled out in April 2026 as part of the 16th Finance Commission cycle.
On the transport front, the CCEA approved two major infrastructure projects aimed at easing congestion and advancing integrated regional connectivity. One of the approved projects involves the construction of a 19.2-kilometer, six-lane, access-controlled bypass in Zirakpur. With a project value of INR 1,878.31 crore, this development will follow the hybrid annuity mode and is expected to ease traffic bottlenecks in Zirakpur, Panchkula, and nearby areas by redirecting heavy flow from Patiala, Delhi, and Mohali Aerocity. The bypass is also expected to offer seamless connectivity to Himachal Pradesh and reduce travel time in congested sections of National Highways 7, 5, and 152.
In a parallel move to enhance railway freight movement, the government approved the doubling of the 104-kilometer Tirupati-Pakala-Katpadi railway line, which spans parts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. This project, sanctioned for INR 1,332 crore, plays a critical role in transporting bulk goods, including coal, cement, minerals, and agricultural produce.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that the expanded railway capacity is expected to support an additional 4 million tonnes of freight traffic annually. He further emphasised that railways, being a more sustainable and energy-efficient mode of transport, will aid in reducing national logistics costs, cut down oil imports by approximately 40 million litres, and decrease CO? emissions by around 200 million kilograms. These environmental benefits, he added, would be equivalent to planting over 10 million trees.
The developments are not just investments in physical assets but also underline the government's intent to align infrastructure growth with environmental and economic goals. The emphasis on micro-irrigation and green logistics suggests a broader vision for an integrated, sustainable development framework in India.
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