Synopsis

The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 1,264 crore railway infrastructure project to construct the third and fourth rail lines between Ballari in Karnataka and Guntakal in Andhra Pradesh. The 46-km multi-tracking project, to be completed by 2028-29, aims to boost freight capacity, improve connectivity for industrial and tourist hubs, and enhance logistics efficiency under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The project is expected to handle an additional 16.22 million tonnes of freight annually, connect 99 villages, generate 31 lakh human-days of employment, and reduce logistics costs, oil imports and carbon emissions.

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday approved a Rs 1,264 crore project to construct the third and fourth railway lines between Ballari in Karnataka and Guntakal in Andhra Pradesh.

The 46-km multi-tracking project, to be completed by 2028-29, is aimed at enhancing rail capacity, improving freight movement and strengthening multimodal connectivity under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

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The project spans three districts across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and is expected to expand the Indian Railways network by around 46 km while improving connectivity to nearly 99 villages with a combined population of about seven lakh.

Speaking after the Cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "The project approved today is for 46km and it will unite Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The duration of this project is of three years."

According to the government, the additional rail capacity will improve connectivity to key tourist destinations, including Ballari Fort and the Sri Kumara Swamy Temple, while supporting the transportation of commodities such as iron ore, dolomite, limestone, iron and steel, coal, fertilisers and food grains.

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The project is expected to enable additional freight traffic of 16.22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), benefiting industrial clusters in the region and easing congestion on one of the country's key freight corridors.

The government said the capacity augmentation will also reduce logistics costs, cut oil imports by an estimated 1.32 crore litres annually and lower carbon dioxide emissions by 6.67 crore kg each year, equivalent to planting around 27 lakh trees.

The increased line capacity is expected to improve operational efficiency, service reliability and overall mobility on the route, while supporting employment and economic activity in the region. The project is part of the government's broader effort to strengthen rail infrastructure and improve logistics efficiency through integrated planning under the PM Gati Shakti initiative.