Centre clears ₹320 crore rail flyover at Dornakal
HYDERABAD: The Union government has approved construction of a major rail-over-rail (RoR) flyover at Dornakal Junction on the Vijayawada–Kazipet Grand Trunk route. The project, estimated at ₹320 crore, involves building a 15-km-long bridge to connect the Vijayawada–Kazipet mainline with the Dornakal–Bhadrachalam section.
The railway ministry is making arrangements to call for tenders shortly. Officials said the project will be completed within three years.
Congestion relief on busy trunk route
The Vijayawada–Kazipet line is part of the north–south Grand Trunk corridor, one of the busiest railway routes in the country. The third line here is nearing completion, and a fourth line has already been sanctioned to meet future traffic needs.
Dornakal is also a junction for the Bhadrachalam–Manuguru line, which is currently a single track but is set to be doubled soon. With train movements expected to rise sharply on both routes, the RoR flyover is seen as critical.
Past delays and operational issues
South Central Railway officials had proposed the bridge nearly three years ago. Feasibility studies, location surveys and the detailed project report were completed, but the project was awaiting sanction. With the Centre’s green signal, funds are likely to be allocated in the coming budget.
At present, trains coming from Vijayawada towards Bhadrachalam are diverted through a bypass line before Dornakal station. However, with multiple new lines in place, trains often face delays of up to two hours due to crossing conflicts. Freight trains are particularly affected.
The new flyover will allow uninterrupted movement of trains between the trunk line and the Bhadrachalam route without halts for crossings. Officials said it will significantly improve operational efficiency for both passenger and freight services.
