This railway expansion will span three districts across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and is expected to be completed within three years. The multi-tracking project will improve accessibility for about 99 villages with a combined population of nearly seven lakh people. These improvements will also boost connectivity to prominent tourist attractions such as Ballari Fort and Sri Kumara Swamy Temple.
The project features the construction of a 762-metre mega bridge over the Vedavathi River, alongside seven major bridges and 52 minor bridges, totaling 60 bridges along the route.
Key project details: – Route length: 46 km – Total investment: Rs 1,264 crore – Project duration: 3 years – States covered: Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh – Bridges: 1 mega bridge (Vedavathi River), 7 major bridges, 52 minor bridges
The enhancement is poised to strengthen a vital freight corridor transporting commodities including iron ore, dolomite, limestone, iron and steel, coal, fertilizers, and food grains. The additional tracks will add an estimated freight carrying capacity of 16.22 million tonnes per annum.
Expected benefits from the Ballari-Guntakal 3rd and 4th line project include: – Faster movement for steel and cement clusters in Ballari and Hospete – Improved port connectivity – Enhanced access to key tourist destinations
Annual impacts anticipated: – 16 million tonnes of additional freight traffic – Reduction of 6.67 crore kilograms of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to planting around 27 lakh trees – Logistic cost savings of Rs 149 crore – Generation of 31 lakh human-days of employment
This strategic railway project is set to ease congestion, streamline train operations, and significantly increase the efficiency of the rail network in the region.
