New Delhi, September 9 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian government has approved five significant railway projects aimed at enhancing connectivity across southern states, including Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The decision was made during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 9, 2026. The total investment for these projects is approximately ₹10,021 crore.
These initiatives are designed to increase the capacity of the railway network, expedite freight transport, and strengthen rail connectivity among key states in South India. The government plans to complete these projects by the 2029-30 fiscal year.
According to an official statement, the approved projects include the third and fourth lines of the Arakkonam-Renigunta route (77 km), the third and fourth lines from Whitefield to Bangarapet (47 km), the Hosur-Omalur doubling project (147 km), the Salem-Karur-Dindigul doubling project (159 km), and the multi-tracking of the Secunderabad (Ghatkesar) to Kazipet route (110 km). Upon completion, these projects will add approximately 540 kilometers of capacity to the Indian railway network.
The projects will benefit 17 districts across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. Improved rail connectivity is expected to enhance access for around 2,121 villages, home to nearly 5.2 million residents.
The Ministry of Railways emphasized that the increased line capacity will facilitate smoother train operations, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the reliability of rail services. Additionally, these projects aim to alleviate existing congestion and operational hindrances on current routes.
These railway initiatives are part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which seeks to improve coordination among various transportation modes and enhance logistics networks.
The government believes that these projects will expedite the movement of people, goods, and services, thereby promoting regional development and creating new employment opportunities. This aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).
The expansion of the railway network will also benefit several key religious and tourist destinations, including Tirupati, the Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tiruttani, the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple in Tiruchanur, and many others. Improved rail connectivity is expected to boost tourism activities and strengthen the local economy.
These railway routes are crucial for transporting essential goods such as coal, cement, iron and steel, containers, automobiles, food grains, petroleum products, and fertilizers. Upon completion, the projects are projected to increase the railway’s freight capacity by approximately 47 million tons per annum.
The government has highlighted that railways are an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mode of transport. Once these projects are completed, the country could see a reduction of about 8 crore liters in oil imports and a decrease of approximately 42 crore kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to the environmental benefit of planting around 2 crore trees.
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