Union Cabinet approves new railway lines at a cost of ₹9,889 crore in Andhra Pradesh

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A map showing the new railway lines sanctioned by the Union Cabinet.

The Union Cabinet approved the laying of the third and fourth railway lines between Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) and Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) at an estimated cost of ₹9,889 crore on Saturday, aiming to ease congestion on one of the country’s busiest rail corridors.

The 198-km-long route, which is a part of the quadrupling initiative of the Howrah–Chennai High Density Network (HDN) route, will involve a total track length of 458 km.

The corridor currently operates at nearly 130% capacity, leading to frequent delays, and is expected to face further pressure due to expanding port and industrial activity along the East Coast.

The new alignment, passing through East Godavari, Konaseema, Kakinada, Anakapalle and Visakhapatnam districts, will include a 4.3-km rail bridge over the Godavari, a 2.67-km viaduct, and three bypasses. The new alignment will also be around 8-km shorter than the existing route, improving operational efficiency.

The project will enhance connectivity to major ports such as Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, Machilipatnam and Kakinada, while also boosting access to tourist destinations such as Annavaram, Antarvedi and Draksharamam.

Officials estimate an additional freight traffic of 29.04 million tonnes per annum consisting of coal, cement, chemical manufacturers, iron and steel, food grains, containers, bauxite, gypsum, limestone and others, and annual logistics savings of ₹1,150 crore vis-a-vis road transportation.

The project is expected to generate 135 lakh human-days of employment and significantly cut carbon emissions, supporting sustainable and economic growth in the region.

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