Multi‑Track Railway Expansion to Add 540 km Capacity, Target 2029‑30 Completion

In a decisive move to upgrade India’s rail infrastructure, the Cabinet approved five multi‑track projects covering a total cost of about ₹10,021 crore. The schemes, spanning Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, are expected to be operational by the 2029‑30 financial year.

The approved works consist of: - Arakkonam‑Renigunta third and fourth lines (77 km) - Whitefield‑Bengalpet third and fourth lines (47 km) - Hosur‑Omalur double‑track (147 km) - Salem‑Karur‑Dindigul double‑track (159 km) - Sikandarabad‑Kazipet multi‑track (110 km)

Combined, these additions will bring roughly 540 km of new track capacity, easing congestion and improving freight velocity. The projects will serve 17 districts, linking more than 2,121 villages and an estimated 5.2 million inhabitants.

According to the Ministry of Railways, the expanded capacity will streamline train schedules, raise service reliability and curtail existing operational bottlenecks. The initiatives are integrated into the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which seeks seamless inter‑modal transport and a robust logistics framework.

Enhanced connectivity is also expected to boost pilgrim and tourist traffic to landmarks like Tirupati, Tiruttani Subramanya Swamy Temple, Kotilingeshwara and Hogenakkal Falls. Freight handling will cover vital commodities such as coal, cement, steel, containers, automobiles, food grains, petroleum derivatives and fertilizers, potentially increasing annual freight throughput by about 47 million tonnes.

The projects promise significant environmental upside: a projected reduction of 8 crore litres in oil imports and a cut of 42 crore kilograms of CO₂ emissions, an impact comparable to planting twenty‑two million trees.