The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved construction of third and fourth railway lines on the Ballari–Guntakal section in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh at an estimated cost of Rs 1,264 crore, expanding the existing network by approximately 46 kilometres.
The project, aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, will cover three districts across the two states and improve connectivity to approximately 99 villages with a combined population of around seven lakh. It will also enhance rail access to tourist destinations including Ballari Fort and Kumara Swamy Temple.
The Ballari–Guntakal route is a critical corridor for transporting iron ore, dolomite, limestone, steel, coal, fertilisers and food grains. The capacity enhancement is projected to generate additional freight traffic of 16.22 million tonnes per annum. The project is also expected to reduce oil imports by 1.32 crore litres and lower CO2 emissions by 6.67 crore kilograms.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the section as an important economic corridor between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, adding that a detailed project report is being prepared for a railway line from Hospet to Hubballi.
