Cabinet approves 110-km multitracking railway line between Ghatkesar and Kazipet
HYDERABAD: The Union Cabinet has approved a 110-km multitracking railway project between Secunderabad (Ghatkesar) and Kazipet in Telangana, as part of five railway projects approved for southern states.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the five projects on September 9. The projects together have an estimated cost of ₹10,021 crore and will add about 540 km to the railway network across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The Secunderabad (Ghatkesar)-Kazipet project is expected to ease congestion on the busy corridor and improve operational efficiency and train punctuality. It will also facilitate faster movement of freight and passengers.
The project is estimated to cost about ₹2,418 crore and will increase freight handling capacity by 9.83 million tonnes a year. This includes 7.06 million tonnes of coal, 0.73 million tonnes of iron ore, 0.65 million tonnes of foodgrains and 0.13 million tonnes of cement.
The improved rail capacity is expected to strengthen connectivity towards the Vijayawada and Mumbai routes. It will also benefit pilgrims travelling to Yadadri, Swarnagiri and Surendragiri temples and tourists visiting Bhuvanagiri Fort.
Union minister G Kishan Reddy welcomed the Cabinet approval and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Reddy said railway budget allocations for Telangana had increased 21-fold since the formation of the state. He said ₹36,286 crore had been allocated to Telangana for railway development over the past 12 years. The minister added that railway projects worth about ₹50,000 crore were currently under execution in the state, while final location surveys were under way for projects worth another ₹50,000 crore.
He said steps were also being taken to improve passenger amenities at railway stations across Telangana. According to Reddy, 42 stations are being developed under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a cost of about ₹3,000 crore, with six stations already inaugurated by the prime minister.
Reddy said railway infrastructure in Telangana had undergone major changes under the Modi government. He also referred to the Kazipet Railway Manufacturing Unit, describing it as a long-standing demand of people in the state, and said further efforts would be made to strengthen the railway network.
The 110-km project is among five multitracking works approved by the Cabinet. The other projects are the 77-km Arakkonam-Renigunta third and fourth lines, 47-km Whitefield-Bangarapet third and fourth lines, 147-km Hosur-Omalur doubling and 159-km Salem-Karur-Dindigul doubling.
