Five projects, worth around Rs 10,021 crore, have been approved across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, adding around 540 km to the railway network and covering 17 districts, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. These include the 77-km third and fourth lines between Arakkonam and Renigunta, the 47-km third and fourth lines between Whitefield and Bangarapet, the 147-km doubling of the Hosur-Omalur section, the 159-km doubling of the Salem-Karur-Dindigul section, and 110 km of multitracking between Secunderabad (Ghatkesar) and Kazipet.          The remaining three projects, worth Rs 10,783 crore, will be implemented across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. These comprise the fourth line between Kharagpur and Jharsuguda (Bagdehi), the fourth line between Katni and Pendra Road, and the third line between Bilaspur (Uslapur) and Pendra Road. These projects will add around 656 km to the railway network and cover 14 districts, improving connectivity to around 4,790 villages with a combined population of nearly 56 lakh. Together, the eight projects will cover 31 districts and improve rail connectivity to around 6,911 villages with a combined population of nearly 1.08 crore. The capacity expansion is expected to ease congestion, improve train movement and strengthen operational efficiency and service reliability on key passenger and freight corridors. The additional infrastructure is also expected to strengthen connectivity to tourist destinations including Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Amarkantak Temple, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve and Ratanpur Mahamaya Temple.

All eight projects have been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, with a focus on multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency. The government said greater rail use would help reduce logistics costs, oil imports and carbon dioxide emissions, with the estimated emissions reduction equivalent to planting 4.48 crore trees.