Centre approves ₹2,229-crore rail line project on Andhra-Tamil Nadu border
The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹2,229-crore project to lay additional railway lines in the Gummidipoondi-Gudur section, a move that is expected to ease congestion on a key route connecting Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The project, part of four rail infrastructure schemes cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, will add third and fourth lines over a 90-km stretch.
The section falls under the Chennai-Kolkata trunk route and serves several important facilities, including the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Krishnapatnam port, Sri City industrial zone, Pulicat lake and Nelapattu bird sanctuary. The new lines are projected to be completed in four years and aim to decongest Gudur, a high-density junction handling trains on routes to Chennai, Vijayawada and Tirupati.
Tirupati MP M. Gurumoorthy welcomed the approval, thanking Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for addressing an infrastructure bottleneck in the region. He described the project as a catalyst for development in the inter-State area.
According to the railway ministry, the project involves construction of 21 major bridges, including a 360-metre mega bridge over the Swarnamukhi river, as well as 127 smaller bridges and 34 road overbridges or underbridges. The additional tracks are expected to increase line capacity and improve punctuality of trains on this busy corridor.
The approval is part of a broader push to expand rail infrastructure in the country. The four projects cleared together total ₹9,450 crore and are spread across multiple states. Analysts say such investments are crucial for reducing freight transit times and supporting industrial growth in southern India.
Local residents and business groups have long demanded capacity augmentation on this stretch, as the existing two lines have faced growing traffic from passenger and freight trains. The project is also seen as beneficial for tourism, given the proximity to Pulicat lake and the bird sanctuary.
The Union Cabinet's decision comes amid ongoing efforts to modernise the railway network, with a focus on high-density corridors. The Gummidipoondi-Gudur project is expected to improve connectivity for both passengers and goods, particularly for ports and industrial zones in the region.
