New Delhi, December 24: The Modi government has launched infrastructure projects worth nearly ₹5 lakh crore during its third term. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, shared details of major approved projects in airports, ports, highways, and railways.

According to Vaishnaw, the Cabinet approved airport development projects in Bagdogra, Bihta, Varanasi, and Kota, involving a total investment of ₹7,339 crore. He said these projects aim to strengthen regional air connectivity.

In the ports and shipping sector, the government approved shipbuilding and maritime development reforms, along with the construction of a major port at Vadhavan near Dahanu in Maharashtra, with a total cost of ₹1,45,945 crore. Vaishnaw said these initiatives would significantly enhance India’s maritime capacity and logistics efficiency.

The highways sector received the highest investment of ₹1,97,644 crore. Approved works include eight national high-speed road projects covering 936 km, expansion under the PM Gram Sadak Yojana, and development of strategic roads in the border areas of Punjab and Rajasthan. Key approved corridors and bypasses include the Patna–Ara–Sasaram Corridor, Zirakpur Bypass, Shillong–Silchar Corridor, six-lane connectivity to JNPT, and several four- and six-lane projects in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, and Assam, including ring roads in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

In the railway sector, Vaishnaw said that 43 railway projects covering 5,869 km of new lines and multi-tracking have been approved with an investment of ₹1,52,583 crore. He added that these projects are expected to reduce congestion, improve freight movement, and enhance passenger services.