Hanumakonda, July 23 : In a major boost to regional rail infrastructure along the crucial Grand Trunk route, South Central Railway (SCR) has successfully completed the tripling and electrification of the 23 km Kazipet-Balharshah section at an estimated cost of Rs.3,000 crores. The completion of the final 11-km stretch between Asifabad and Sirpur Kaghaznagar including the vital bridge over the Babri River and full route electrification marks the full commissioning of the project.
The Kazipet–Balharshah line serves as a critical rail artery linking northern and southern India, carrying heavy passenger traffic alongside bulk freight such as coal and cement to nearby power plants and industrial hubs. To ease severe congestion along the corridor, the 33-km Raghavapuram–Mandamarri stretch was first tripled in 2016, followed by sanction for the remaining 203 km (159 km in Telangana and 44 km in Maharashtra) during 2015–16. Barring a minor connection inside the Balharshah yard under Central Railway jurisdiction, the entire multi-state third line is now operational.
The newly commissioned third track significantly expands line capacity, enabling smoother train operations, higher speeds, and reduced delays for both passenger and freight express trains. Additionally, 100% electrification across the route is expected to cut carbon emissions while lowering operational energy costs.
South Central Railway General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava praised the dedication of the engineering, signal and telecommunication, electrical, and operating teams involved in completing the project. He noted that the project marks a significant milestone in meeting the growing socio-economic transportation needs of Telangana and Maharashtra while strengthening cross-country rail connectivity.
Keywords : Kazipet Balharshah tripling project, South Central Railway third line, Grand Trunk route railway electrification, SCR General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, Asifabad Sirpur Kaghaznagar third line, Telangana Maharashtra railway connectivity.
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