203-km Kazipet-Balharshah Rail Tripling: Rs 3,000 Crore Project Complete
South Central Railway (SCR) has completed the 203-km Kazipet-Balharshah rail tripling project, marking a significant milestone for the Grand Trunk route. The project, costing ₹3,000 crore, includes track tripling and electrification, with the final 11-km stretch between Asifabad Road and Sirpur Kaghaznagar now commissioned. A major bridge across the Bibra River was also part of the works.
The Kazipet-Balharshah section is a vital corridor connecting northern and southern India. It serves numerous coal and cement sidings, leading to heavy traffic and near-saturation of line capacity. To decongest the route, SCR began tripling works on a 33-km stretch in 2016, followed by sanction for the remaining section in 2015-16. The project spans 159 km in Telangana and 44 km in Maharashtra. Since 2020, various phases have been commissioned.
Railway officials confirmed that the entire stretch is now operational except for a small portion near Balharshah station under Central Railway's jurisdiction. Work on connecting the third line to the Balharshah yard is in progress. SCR General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava congratulated the team for the successful completion, as per a press release issued on Thursday (July 23, 2026).
The tripling is expected to enhance operational efficiency, reduce congestion, and enable smoother movement of trains on this busy route, benefiting both freight and passenger services.
