India Approves 100.2 Billion Rupees Railway Expansion Project, Adding 540 Kilometers of New Lines

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 9, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs of India approved five railway doubling and multi-tracking projects with a total investment of approximately 100.21 billion rupees, covering 17 districts across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. The projects plan to add approximately 540 kilometers of railway lines, with the overall construction target set for completion before the 2029–2030 fiscal year.

The approved projects include the construction of the third and fourth lines on the Arakkonam–Renigunta section, with a total length of 77 kilometers; the construction of the third and fourth lines on the Whitefield–Bangalore Petai section, with a total length of 47 kilometers; the doubling of the 147-kilometer Hosur–Omalur line; the doubling of the 159-kilometer Salem–Karur–Dindigul line; and the multi-tracking of the 110-kilometer Secunderabad (Ghatkesar)–Kazipet line. All five projects are being advanced by the Ministry of Railways of India.

Among them, the Arakkonam–Renigunta and Whitefield–Bangalore Petai sections will increase the capacity of existing trunk lines by adding third and fourth lines; the Hosur–Omalur and Salem–Karur–Dindigul sections will expand existing single-line sections into double lines; and the Secunderabad–Kazipet section will undergo multi-tracking capacity expansion. The projects cover multiple passenger and freight transport corridors in southern India, and the expansion scope includes adding tracks to existing lines and related railway infrastructure.

According to data released by the Indian government, once the five projects are completed, they will cover approximately 2,121 villages, involving a population of approximately 5.2 million. The relevant lines carry freight including coal, cement, steel, containers, automobiles, grain, petroleum products, and fertilizers, and the new line capacity is expected to increase railway freight volume by approximately 47 million tons per year.

The projects will be advanced in accordance with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, and the construction plans involve the integration of railways with existing highways, logistics nodes, and regional transportation networks. The new lines will also cover areas along the route including Tirupati, the Kolar Gold Fields, Hosur, the Mettur Dam, and Kodaikanal.

The Indian government estimates that after the five railway capacity expansion projects are put into operation, they can reduce petroleum consumption by approximately 80 million liters per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 420 million kilograms.