South Central Railway (SCR) has completed the 203 km Kazipet-Balharshah third line project along with electrification, a major infrastructure upgrade aimed at easing congestion and improving passenger and freight movement on one of the country’s busiest rail corridors. The project was completed with the commissioning of the final 11 km stretch between Asifabad and Sirpur Kaghaznagar, which included a bridge across the Bibra River. Executed at an estimated cost of around Rs 30 bn, the work enables more seamless operations on the Grand Trunk route linking northern and southern India.

The Kazipet-Balharshah section is a crucial rail link that connects the north and the south and serves several coal and cement sidings, a factor that had driven sustained growth in freight traffic and recurrent congestion. To address capacity constraints, SCR had previously completed a 33 km tripling between Raghavapuram and Mandamarri in 2016. The remaining 203 km stretch, which spans 159 km in Telangana and 44 km in Maharashtra, was sanctioned during 2015–16.

Electrification of the third line forms part of a broader drive to enhance energy efficiency and reduce transit times for both passenger and freight services, officials indicated. The additional track capacity will improve train punctuality and enable routing flexibility for goods trains, thereby supporting supply chains for the regions served. The project incorporated civil works, signalling upgrades and the construction of bridges and associated structures along the corridor.

While the third line and electrification have been commissioned, a small stretch near Balharshah station under Central Railway jurisdiction remains to be connected to the Balharshah yard through the newly laid third line. SCR will coordinate with Central Railway to complete the final link and integrate operations across the adjoining yards. The completion will have a lasting impact on throughput and regional connectivity.