The Union Cabinet on Friday approved projects worth Rs 1,60,504 crore, spanning infrastructure and dedicated funds for urban challenge and startup India 2.0.

“Major decisions have been taken by the Cabinet yesterday. The cumulative value of the decisions taken by the cabinet is Rs 1,60,504 crore. Several infrastructure projects, urban challenge fund and startup India fund of fund 2.0 have been approved by the Cabinet,” said union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a briefing on Cabinet decisions today.

Vaishnaw said three railway projects have been approved. “Third and fourth lines have been approved between Ambala and Delhi, Kasara and Manmad, and Hospet and Ballari. These are very important sections. Kasara and Manmad section will entail capital cost of Rs 10,154 crore. Delhi-Ambala additional line will involve an investment of Rs 5,983 crore,” Vaishnaw said.

Vaishnaw said the cabinet has also approved the twin tube tunnel between Gohpur and Numaligarh. It is a four-lane underwater tunnel, having total length of 15.8 kms. There are twin parallel tubes in the project for road and rail and it is India’s first underwater twin tube rail cum road tunnel. The project cost is Rs 18,662 crore. it will be constructed in the next five years.

“The project will reduce the distance between Gohpur and Numaligarh to only 34 kms compared with 240 kms at present, reducing the present six hour travel time to 20 minutes. This is a big change and multiple such projects have been taken up in Assam and this is a very unique project,” said Vaishnaw, adding that this a major part of the Act East policy of the Modi government.

“This project will provide connectivity to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Entire North East will be benefited,” Vaishnaw said.  The union cabinet also approved four laning of Gudebellur – Mahabubnagar section of NH167 at a capital cost of Rs 3,175 crore. Four landing of Vapi – bodeli corridor at a capital cost of Rs 4,584 crore and Ghoti – Palghar section at a cost of Rs 3320 crore has also been approved by the Cabinet.

Cabinet also approved the extension of Noida metro’s Aqua line from Botanical Garden to Noida sector 142.

The union cabinet also announced the urban challenge fund announced in the budget 2025 -26 with a Central assistance of Rs one lakh crore. “The scheme will cover major industrial cities with one lakh plus population. Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with an outlay of Rs 10000 crore has also been approved by the Cabinet.