Cabinet approves Rs 2.19 lakh cr projects, including Semicon 2.0, mobile manufacturing scheme and urea policy
New Delhi, July 15
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved seven major decisions, including Semicon 2.0, the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme and the National Investment Policy for Urea-2026, along with infrastructure and railway projects. The total outlay of the approved projects stands at Rs 2,19,353 crore.
Addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said seven major decisions had been taken.
He said the first two decisions relate to a new approach to infrastructure development in Varanasi (Kashi).
According to the minister, the government has approved a 6/4-lane elevated corridor along the River Varuna at a cost of Rs 10,998 crore and a 6-lane elevated corridor along the River Ganga costing Rs 14,448 crore.
Among the key announcements, the Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 with an outlay of Rs 1,27,500 crore. The approval marks a significant decision of the government.
The Cabinet also approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with an allocation of Rs 62,500 crore. The scheme is one of the major manufacturing-related decisions announced alongside Semicon 2.0.
Highlighting another key decision, Vaishnaw said the government has approved the National Investment Policy for Urea-2026. He said the policy is aimed at making India self-reliant in urea production. The decision is a policy approval and does not carry a financial allocation in the Cabinet decisions table.
Apart from these, the Cabinet approved two railway infrastructure projects. It cleared the doubling of the Paradeep-Haridaspur railway line at a cost of Rs 2,542 crore. It also approved the fourth railway line between Dangoaposi and Rajkharsawan, involving an investment of Rs 1,365 crore.
"Seven major decisions were taken today. The first two decisions relate to a new approach to infrastructure development in Varanasi (Kashi). The third and fourth decisions are related to the approval of Semiconductor Mission 2.0 (Semicon 2.0). The fourth decision is the approval of the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme. The fifth decision is aimed at making India self-reliant in urea production. For this, the National Investment Policy for Urea has been approved," he said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Rs 62,500 crore for mobile manufacturing? That's huge. But I hope the scheme actually benefits small and medium manufacturers, not just the big players. And the urea policy is long overdue - we import too much. Make in India for fertilizers too! 🌾
Impressive numbers, but I wonder about execution. The semiconductor mission (Semicon 1.0) had some delays. Hope 2.0 is more streamlined. The railway doubling in Odisha and Jharkhand is practical - better connectivity means better economy. Building infrastructure is always welcome.
Finally some focus on Varanasi infrastructure! Those riverfront roads are desperately needed. But is Rs 10,998 crore and Rs 14,448 crore enough for elevated corridors? Let's see the detailed plans. Also, glad the urea policy aims for self-reliance - our farmers deserve better.
Mixed feelings. Semicon 2.0 and mobile manufacturing are great for tech jobs. But I wish some of this money went to basic education or healthcare in rural areas. Balancing growth with welfare is tricky. Hope the railway projects in eastern India bring economic benefits to those regions. 🤔
The total outlay of Rs 2.19 lakh crore is massive. I'd like to see more transparency in how these projects are monitored. No point approving big numbers if there's no accountability. But credit where due - the urea self-reliance goal is smart geopolitically.
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