The Union Cabinet approved the laying of the third and fourth railway lines between Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) and Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) at an estimated cost of Rs 98.89 billion (bn).

The 198 km route forms part of the quadrupling initiative on the Howrah–Chennai High Density Network and will involve a total track length of 458 km.

The project was cleared to ease congestion on one of the country’s busiest rail corridors and to improve connectivity to major ports and to enhance access to tourist destinations along the eastern coast.

Authorities indicated that the upgrade will increase capacity for both passenger and freight services and is expected to generate an additional freight traffic of 29.04 mn t per annum, allowing more trains to operate with reduced delays.

Government sources outlined that the work will include land acquisition, track laying and associated signalling and electrification upgrades along the corridor, and that the intervention forms part of broader national efforts to modernise the High Density Network and to support port led economic activity.