₹1,264 Crore Ballari-Guntakal Rail Project Approved
46-km multi-tracking project across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to boost freight movement and connectivity by 2028-29
- Cabinet approves ₹1,264 crore Ballari-Guntakal multi-tracking railway project.
- Project will add 46 km to the Indian Railways network.
- Rail connectivity to 99 villages and key tourist destinations to improve.
- Capacity enhancement to support freight movement and reduce carbon emissions.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th July: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the third and fourth railway lines on the Ballari-Guntakal section spanning Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh at an estimated cost of ₹1,264 crore.
The project, scheduled for completion by 2028-29, will add about 46 kilometres to the existing Indian Railways network and has been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to strengthen multimodal connectivity and improve logistics efficiency.
Covering three districts across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the project is expected to enhance rail connectivity for around 99 villages with a combined population of nearly seven lakh.
According to the government, the additional rail lines will improve access to important tourist destinations, including Ballari Fort and Sri Kumara Swamy Temple, while strengthening passenger and freight transportation in the region.
The Ballari-Guntakal corridor is a key route for transporting commodities such as iron ore, dolomite, limestone, iron and steel, coal, fertilisers and food grains. The capacity augmentation is expected to facilitate an additional freight movement of 16.22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
The government said the project will help reduce logistics costs, save an estimated 1.32 crore litres of oil and cut 6.67 crore kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to planting around 0.27 crore trees.
The enhanced rail capacity is also expected to improve operational efficiency, ease congestion and provide more reliable services across the network. The government said the project aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat and is expected to generate employment and self-employment opportunities while promoting regional development.
