Last Updated on March 10, 2026 9:15 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
BISHESHWAR MISHRA / NEW DELHI
The UNION Cabinet today approved the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission up to December 2028. Briefing media in New Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, has approved the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s proposal to restructure and reorient the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission from infrastructure creation to service delivery.
For restructuring JJM, focusing on structural reforms, the Cabinet has approved the enhancement of total outlay to 8.69 lakh crore rupees with total central assistance of 3.59 lakh crore. A uniform national digital framework, “Sujalam Bharat”, shall be instituted under which every village shall be assigned a unique Sujal Gaon/Service Area ID. This will digitally map the complete drinking water supply system from source to tap.
The Cabinet has also approved the declaration of Madurai Airport in Tamil Nadu as an International Airport. Madurai Airport, located in the temple city of Madurai, is one of the oldest airports in the state. It serves as a crucial gateway to southern Tamil Nadu and plays a pivotal role in promoting tourism and pilgrimage, contributing to the overall growth of the region. Elevating Madurai Airport to International Status would enhance regional connectivity, promote trade, and drive economic development in the region. The airport’s potential to attract international pilgrims and businesses aligns with the city’s historical prominence.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the revised total capital cost of 3630.77 crore rupees for the construction of Greenfield Connectivity to Jewar International Airport from the Delhi-Faridabad-Ballabhgarh-Sohna Spur of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway on Hybrid Annuity Mode in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. This 31.42 kilometres long project corridor will provide direct and high-speed connectivity from South Delhi, Faridabad and Gurugram to Jewar International Airport. It will promote economic growth and logistics efficiency across the National Capital Region.
The corridor intersects the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Yamuna Expressway, and Dedicated Freight Corridor, enabling multimodal transport convergence. The elevated corridor is not merely a structural enhancement but also a strategic enabler for urban transformation, regional connectivity, and national logistics efficiency. Its construction is important to unlock the full potential of the Jewar Airport-Delhi-Mumbai Expressway corridor and to ensure sustainable urban development in Faridabad.
CCEA also gave its nod to the development of a 4-lane corridor from the Badnawar-Petlawad-Thandla-Timarwani section of NH-752D, having a length of 80.45 kilometres with a total capital cost of 3,839.42 crore rupees. The approved corridor will provide connectivity from Ujjain to the Timrawani interchange at the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. The primary purpose of the proposed four-lane project corridor is to improve travel efficiency and is expected to reduce travel time by around an hour.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved two projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total cost of 4,474 crore rupees. These projects include the Sainthia-Pakur 4th line and the Santragachi-Kharagpur 4th line. The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion.