Union Cabinet today approved a proposal of Nagpur Metro rail project. The project will be implemented at an estimated cost of around Rs 8,680 crore. Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting in New Delhi, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that a Special Purpose Vehicle, Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation will be set up for the implementation of 38.21 kilometer rail project.

The Cabinet also gave its nod for installing 1836 base transmission towers in the left-wing extremist areas to augment public communication facilities in backward regions. These towers will be installed in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Mr. Prasad said the government will spend 3216 crore rupees on the project.

The Cabinet also approved Digital India Project to transform the country into digitally empowered and knowledge economy. The programme will be implemented in phased manner from the current year till 2018.

Mr. Prasad said the Digital India is transformational in nature and would ensure that Government services are available to citizens electronically. He said it would also bring in public accountability through mandated delivery of government's services electronically.

Mr Prasad said, the cabinet has decided to slash the minimum export price of onion to 350 dollar per tonne from 500 dollar per tonne. The decision has been taken in view of the availability of onion in the market. Besides, the Cabinet also cleared the hike in mining royalty rates on minerals with a few exceptions like coal and lignite.