Cabinet approves Rs 10,021 crore rail expansion across southern India
Five projects are intended to add 540 kilometres of capacity across 17 districts in four states by 2029-30.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved five Ministry of Railways projects costing about Rs 10,021 crore, with completion planned by 2029-30.
The package covers third and fourth lines from Arakkonam to Renigunta and Whitefield to Bangarapet, doubling from Hosur to Omalur and Salem to Karur to Dindigul, and multitracking from Secunderabad at Ghatkesar to Kazipet. It adds about 540 kilometres across 17 districts and is projected to support 47 million tonnes of additional freight a year.
Why it matters
Added capacity could improve passenger reliability and freight movement across industrial, automotive, agricultural and port-linked corridors in southern India.
SCULTRA point of view
Each corridor needs a public delivery record covering cost, procurement, land, commissioning dates, capacity use and service improvement after completion.
Limitations
Traffic, oil-saving and emissions benefits are government projections, not realised results. The release gives aggregate rather than route-level economics and execution risks.
Source: Press Information Bureau / Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, 9 September 2026.