The South Central Railway (SCR) is on the verge of completing three crucial third-line railway projects, alongside ongoing electrification efforts across its busiest routes. These significant upgrades are poised to dramatically boost train speeds and allow for more services on these vital sections before the year ends, promising a smoother and more efficient rail network.
Leading these transformative projects is the 219-kilometer Vijayawada-Kazipet third-line, a monumental undertaking costing ₹1,952 crore. This essential corridor, connecting both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is a lifeline for heavy passenger and freight traffic destined for India’s eastern and southern states.
Initiated in 2012-13, the Vijayawada-Kazipet project strategically spans 35 km in Andhra Pradesh and 184 km in Telangana. Already, an impressive 179 km of track has been laid, covering key segments like Vijayawada-Gangineni (35 km), Gangineni-Khammam (72 km), and Mahabubabad-Kazipet (72 km). Railway officials anticipate the final 41-km stretch between Mahabubabad and Khammam to be finished within the next two months, bringing this crucial line to full completion.
Another significant endeavor is the 205-kilometer Kazipet-Balharshah section, with an estimated cost of ₹2,063 crore (excluding the Raghavapuram-Mandamarri segment). This critical line, sanctioned in 2015-16, extends 159 km through Telangana and 46 km into Maharashtra, serving as a vital artery on the notoriously congested Grand Trunk route.
Progress on the Kazipet-Balharshah section has been substantial, with 187 km already laid. This includes the Kazipet-Raghavapuram (90 km), Sirpur Town-Sirpur Kagaznagar (21 km), and Asifabad-Rechini Road-Bellampalli (29 km) segments within Telangana, as well as the 46 km stretch from Balharshah-Manikgarh-Makudi-Sirpur Town in Maharashtra. The final 18 km, encompassing Bellampalli-Mandamarri and Asifabad-Sirpur Kagaznagar, are slated for imminent completion.
Finally, the 288-kilometer Vijayawada–Gudur third-line project, another crucial addition to the Grand Trunk route, is moving swiftly towards completion. With a budget of ₹3,246 crore, this project, sanctioned in 2015–16, is divided into three sections: Gudur–Bitragunta (75 km), Bitragunta–Karavadi (89 km), and Karavadi–Krishna Canal (Vijayawada) (124 km). Impressively, 281 km from Gudur to Pedavadlapudi are already complete, with only the last 7 km connecting Krishna Canal and Pedavadlapudi rapidly approaching its finish line.
Looking ahead, several other major third-line projects are actively in the pipeline. These include the extensive Duvvada–Vijayawada line (335 km, ₹3,350 crore), sanctioned in 2015–16, with a survey already underway for a potential fourth line. The Gudur–Renigunta project (83 km, ₹877 crore), approved in 2024, has seen preliminary work begin. A significant capacity-building initiative is also the Secunderabad–Wadi project (173 km, ₹5,012 crore), which involves constructing a third line between Sanathnagar–Hafizpet and a third/fourth line from Hafizpet–Wadi. According to CPRO A. Sridhar, this ambitious project, requiring 226 hectares of land, is projected to be completed within five years.