Kalaburagi: The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the construction of the 3rd and 4th railway lines from Secunderabad to Wadi Junction (173 km) at a cost of ₹5,012 crore, bringing major relief and opportunities for the Kalyana Karnataka region.
Currently, the Secunderabad–Wadi route is fully doubled and electrified. With growing freight movement, especially coal and cement, the new lines are expected to ease congestion and boost regional industries.
Key Highlights of the Project
- Length: 173 km (across Karnataka & Telangana)
- Timeline: 5 years for completion
- Land Requirement: 226 hectares
- Capacity Benefits:
- Smoother operations for freight & passenger trains
- Reduced detention of trains
- Additional revenue generation from freight
- Better connectivity for cement industries & thermal power plants
Regional Impact
- Connectivity boost to 3,108 villages & 47.34 lakh population across four states – Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, and Assam.
- Kalaburagi, an aspirational district, stands to benefit significantly.
- The additional lines will especially support 15 cement factories in the Wadi–Chittapur–Sedam–Tandur–Vikarabad belt, strengthening industrial growth.
Voices on the Project
- A. Sridhar, CPRO, South Central Railway, Secunderabad: “This line will serve cement industries and thermal power plants, generating new freight paths and reducing train delays.”
- Sunil Kulkarni, President, Kalyana Karnataka Grahakara Vedike: “Nearly 50 km of the new lines pass through Karnataka, providing vital support to the cement and coal industries in the region.”
North Karnataka’s Railway Expansion
- This is the first 3rd and 4th line project in North Karnataka, and the second in the state after Bengaluru Cantonment–Whitefield (to be completed by Dec).
- Another multi-tracking project, Guntakal–Pune (via Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi), is under the National Rail Plan–2050, currently at the DPR stage.
