The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the doubling of the 104-km single railway line between Tirupati, Pakala, and Katpadi in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The project, sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs.13.32 billion, aims to bolster regional connectivity, improve freight and passenger movement, and contribute to sustainable rail operations.

The upgraded line will benefit approximately 400 villages and around 1.4 million people. It will also significantly improve access to Tirupati, home to the revered Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, which draws nearly 75,000 pilgrims daily—rising to 150,000 on auspicious occasions.

The multi-tracking initiative aligns with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, enabling integrated, multi-modal connectivity and enhancing Indian Railways’ efficiency. The project spans three districts across the two states and will add about 113 km to the national railway network.

Besides Tirupati, the route also connects religious and tourist destinations like the Sri Kalahasti Shiva Temple, Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple, and Chandragiri Fort.

From an economic perspective, the new double line will ease congestion on one of the busiest railway corridors and support the transport of key goods like coal, cement, agricultural produce, and minerals. It is expected to handle an additional 4 million tonnes of freight annually.

In terms of environmental impact, the project will reduce India’s oil imports by 40 million litres and cut carbon emissions by 200 million kg—equivalent to planting 10 million trees. It will also generate around 3.5 million human-days of direct employment during construction.

Overall, the railway doubling marks a step forward in building an Atmanirbhar Bharat through improved logistics, local job creation, and greener mobility solutions.