The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a package of major infrastructure and livelihood initiatives, clearing ₹12,328 crore for four railway projects while also extending the Prime Minister’s Street Vendors’ AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme until March 31, 2030. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the decisions as part of the government’s focus on creating next-generation infrastructure and empowering street vendors across the country.
The four railway projects cover 13 districts across Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, and Assam, expanding the Indian Railways network by 565 km. They include the Deshalpar-Hajipir-Luna and Vayor-Lakhpat new line in Gujarat’s remote Kutch region, Secunderabad (Sanathnagar)-Wadi third and fourth line in Telangana and Karnataka, Bhagalpur-Jamalpur third line in Bihar, and Furkating-New Tinsukia doubling in Assam.
Officials said the projects aim to ensure seamless and faster transportation for both passengers and freight, reduce logistics costs, lower dependence on oil imports, and bring down CO2 emissions through more efficient rail operations. “The Cabinet’s approval reflects our continued focus on connectivity and next-gen infrastructure,” PM Modi posted on X, highlighting the transformative impact of the projects.
In parallel, the Cabinet cleared the restructuring and extension of the PM SVANidhi scheme with a total outlay of ₹7,332 crore, expected to benefit 1.15 crore street vendors, including 50 lakh new beneficiaries. The scheme, launched in 2020, provides working capital loans to street vendors, aiming to strengthen financial inclusion and self-reliance.
The restructured scheme will enhance loan amounts in the first and second tranches, from ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 and from ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 respectively, while retaining the third tranche at ₹50,000. Beneficiaries who repay the second loan will also be eligible for UPI-linked RuPay credit cards, encouraging digital transactions with cashback incentives.
Implementation will be shared between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Department of Financial Services, with the latter facilitating access to credit via banks and financial institutions. Coverage is being expanded beyond statutory towns to include census towns and peri-urban areas in a graded manner.
“Our government is committed to making our street vendor brothers and sisters self-reliant. Extending PM SVANidhi until 2030 will play a significant role in transforming their lives,” PM Modi stated.
Together, the two Cabinet approvals underscore the government’s twin priorities, building next-generation infrastructure while empowering some of the most vulnerable segments of society. By combining large-scale connectivity projects with grassroots financial inclusion schemes, the administration aims to drive growth while broadening the base of beneficiaries.
