540-Km Rail Expansion to Improve Passenger Mobility, Freight Capacity and Connectivity to Major Tourism and Pilgrimage Destinations

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved five railway multitracking projects with a total estimated investment of ₹10,021 crore across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.

The projects will add approximately 540 km to the Indian Railways network and are scheduled for completion by 2029-30. The expansion is expected to ease congestion, improve operational efficiency and strengthen the reliability of passenger and freight services across 17 districts.

Key Highlights

• ₹10,021 crore estimated investment across five railway projects.
• Approximately 540 km of additional rail capacity.
• Projects cover 17 districts across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.
• Connectivity to around 2,121 villages serving nearly 52 lakh people.
• Additional freight capacity expected to reach 47 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
• Improved access to destinations including Tirupati, Kodaikanal Hills, Hogenakkal Falls, Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary and Yadagirigutta Temple.
• Projects aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
• Expected reduction of approximately 8 crore litres of oil imports.
• Estimated reduction in CO₂ emissions of around 42 crore kg, equivalent to planting approximately 2 crore trees.

Five Railway Projects Approved

The five approved multitracking projects are:

1. Arakkonam–Renigunta 3rd and 4th Line – 77 km
2. Whitefield–Bangarapet 3rd and 4th Line – 47 km
3. Hosur–Omalur Doubling – 147 km
4. Salem–Karur–Dindigul Doubling – 159 km
5. Secunderabad (Ghatkesar)–Kazipet Multitracking – 110 km

The combined projects will increase railway capacity by approximately 540 km, helping streamline train operations and reduce congestion on important passenger and freight routes.

Rail Connectivity to Benefit 17 Districts

The projects will cover 17 districts across four southern states and improve connectivity to approximately 2,121 villages, with a combined population of around 52 lakh.

The projects are being planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, with a focus on integrated infrastructure planning, multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency.

The additional capacity is expected to facilitate smoother movement of people, goods and services, while also supporting employment and economic activity in the regions connected by the upgraded railway network.

Major Tourism and Pilgrimage Destinations to Gain Better Connectivity

The railway capacity enhancement is expected to improve connectivity to a wide range of religious, heritage, wildlife and leisure destinations.

Key destinations mentioned in the project include:

• Tirupati
• Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruttani
• Sri Padmavati Ammavaari Temple, Tiruchanur
• Kotilingeshwara Devaalaya
• Bangaru Tirupati
• Kolar Gold Fields
• Hogenakkal Falls
• Hosur Fort
• Mettur Dam
• Kodaikanal Hills
• Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary
• Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple
• Namakkal Fort
• Kalyana Pasupatheswar Temple
• Yadagirigutta Temple
• Bhongir Fort
• Surendrapuri
• Swarnagiri Temple

The expanded rail capacity can improve access to these destinations for domestic tourists and pilgrims, while creating opportunities for stronger regional tourism circuits.

Freight Capacity Expected to Rise by 47 MTPA

The routes covered by the projects are also important for the movement of commodities such as coal, cement, iron and steel, containers, automobiles, food grains, petroleum products and fertilisers.

The capacity augmentation is expected to generate additional freight traffic of approximately 47 MTPA.

Higher rail capacity can improve logistics efficiency and help businesses move goods more reliably while reducing dependence on road transportation.

Environmental Benefits from Rail Capacity Expansion

The government has highlighted the environmental advantages of increasing rail’s share in freight and passenger transportation.

The projects are expected to help reduce oil imports by approximately 8 crore litres and lower CO₂ emissions by around 42 crore kg.

The estimated reduction in emissions is equivalent to the environmental benefit associated with planting approximately 2 crore trees.

Impact on Hospitality, Travel and Tourism

The railway expansion could provide a significant boost to the hospitality and tourism ecosystem across southern India.

Pilgrimage tourism: Better rail connectivity to destinations such as Tirupati, Tiruttani, Tiruchanur and Yadagirigutta can facilitate larger and more efficient pilgrim movements. This could support demand for hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, local transport and tour services.

Leisure tourism: Destinations such as Kodaikanal, Hogenakkal Falls and Mettur Dam could benefit from improved accessibility, potentially encouraging weekend travel and short-stay tourism.

Wildlife tourism: Improved connectivity towards Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary could benefit accommodation providers, guides, transport operators and other tourism businesses in the surrounding region.

Food and beverage: Greater tourist and passenger movement can create additional demand for restaurants, cafés, catering businesses and local food enterprises around railway stations and tourist destinations.

Hotel sector: Improved accessibility can support higher occupancy and encourage investment in accommodation infrastructure in emerging tourism markets along these railway corridors.

Tourism circuits: The combination of religious, heritage, nature and leisure attractions across the four states creates scope for developing integrated tourism circuits supported by improved rail connectivity.

Boost to Southern India’s Travel Economy

The ₹10,021 crore railway investment represents a major capacity expansion for passenger and freight movement across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.

For the travel and hospitality industry, the most important benefit will be improved accessibility to a diverse range of pilgrimage, heritage, wildlife and leisure destinations. With approximately 52 lakh people across 2,121 villages gaining improved connectivity, the projects could also strengthen local tourism economies and encourage new hospitality and tourism businesses.

With completion targeted for 2029-30, the five projects are expected to contribute to a more connected regional travel network while simultaneously improving freight efficiency, reducing logistics costs and supporting India’s broader multimodal connectivity goals.