SCR nears completion of key third-line projects to boost rail capacity

South Central Railway (SCR) is in the final stages of executing three key third-line projects, along with electrification works on some of its busiest routes. These upgrades are expected to enhance train speeds and enable more services on key sections by the end of the year.

The most important among them is the 219-km Vijayawada-Kazipet third-line project, spanning both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, at a cost of ₹1,952 crore. This vital corridor carries heavy passenger and freight traffic bound for the eastern and southern regions of the country.

Sanctioned in 2012-13, the project covers 35 km in Andhra Pradesh and 184 km in Telangana. Of the total length, 179 km have been completed, including the Vijayawada-Gangineni (35 km), Gangineni-Khammam (72 km) and Mahabubabad-Kazipet (72 km) stretches. The remaining 41-km segment between Mahabubabad and Khammam is expected to be completed within the next two months, according to senior railway officials.

The second project is the 205-km Kazipet-Balharshah section, costing ₹2,063 crore (excluding the Raghavapuram-Mandamarri stretch). Spanning 159 km in Telangana and 46 km in Maharashtra, this line lies on the heavily congested Grand Trunk route and was sanctioned in 2015-16.

So far, 187 km have been completed, including Kazipet-Raghavapuram (90 km), Sirpur Town-Sirpur Kagaznagar (21 km), and Asifabad-Rechini Road-Bellampalli (29 km) in Telangana, and the Balharshah-Manikgarh-Makudi-Sirpur Town (46 km) stretch in Maharashtra. The remaining 18 km, covering Bellampalli-Mandamarri and Asifabad-Sirpur Kagaznagar, are expected to be completed soon.

The third one is the 288 km Vijayawada–Gudur third-line project, costing ₹3,246 crore — also on the Grand Trunk route. It was sanctioned in 2015–16 is being executed in three packages: Gudur–Bitragunta (75 km), Bitragunta–Karavadi (89 km) and Karavadi–Krishna Canal (Vijayawada) (124 km). Of this, 281 km from Gudur to Pedavadlapudi have been completed. The remaining 7 km between Krishna Canal and Pedavadlapudi is nearing completion.

Other major third-line projects in the pipeline include: Duvvada–Vijayawada (335 km, ₹3,350 crore) – Sanctioned in 2015–16; survey underway for a fourth line. Gudur–Renigunta (83 km, ₹877 crore) – Sanctioned in 2024 where preliminary works in progress. Another major capacity building work is the Secunderabad–Wadi (173 km, ₹5,012 crore) project which includes construction of a third line between Sanathnagar–Hafizpet and a third/fourth line between Hafizpet–Wadi. The project is expected to be completed in five years, requiring 226 hectares of land, said to CPRO A. Sridhar.