**Executive Summary**
This document provides the Minister of Railways' response to questions regarding the Bhadrachalam-Kovvur Railway Line project. The response outlines the project's cost-sharing agreement with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, its current status, and other railway projects in the state. The response was prepared in answer to questions submitted to Lok Sabha, to be answered on 04.02.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Details:**
* The Bhadrachalam-Kovvur (119 Km) New Line project was sanctioned on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis with the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
* The anticipated project cost is ₹3,796 crore.
* The Bhadrachalam-Satupalli (56 Km) new line project was completed in May 2022.
* **Budget Allocation in Andhra Pradesh:**
* Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works in Andhra Pradesh has increased significantly.
* Average budget allocation for 2009-2014 was ₹886 crore/year (including Telangana).
* Budget allocation for 2025-2026 is ₹9,417 crore (more than 10 times the average).
* **Track Commissioning:**
* During 2009-14, 363 Km of new track was commissioned (72.6 Km per year).
* During 2014-25, 1,582 Km of new track was commissioned (143.82 Km per year).
* As of 01.04.2025, 39 projects (12 New Lines and 27 Doubling) covering a total length of 4,499 km, costing ₹70,232 crore, falling fully/partly in Andhra Pradesh, have been sanctioned.
* Out of these sanctioned projects, 1,178 km length has been commissioned, and an expenditure of ₹28,039 crore has been incurred up to March 2025.
* **Project Status Summary:**
| Category | No. of projects | Total Length (Km) | Length Commissioned (Km) | Expenditure up to March 2025 (₹ in Cr.) |
| ----------------------- | --------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |
| New Line | 12 | 1595 | 199 | 6,413 |
| Doubling / Multitracking | 27 | 2904 | 979 | 21,626 |
| **TOTAL** | **39** | **4,499** | **1,178** | **28,039** |
* **Factors influencing project sanction and completion:**
* **Sanction:** Anticipated traffic, connectivity, route addition, congestion, demands from government bodies, operational requirements, socio-economic factors, availability of funds.
* **Completion:** Land acquisition, forest clearance, shifting utilities, statutory clearances, geological conditions, law and order, and working months.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Government of Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** The project's progress directly impacts Andhra Pradesh's railway infrastructure development and connectivity.
* **Action Required:** Continue to fulfill the cost-sharing agreement for the Bhadrachalam-Kovvur Railway Line project and collaborate with the Ministry of Railways to expedite project completion.
* **Citizens of Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Improved railway infrastructure will enhance transportation options, potentially boosting economic activity and connectivity.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required; benefit from improved transportation infrastructure as projects are completed.
* **Ministry of Railways**
* **Impact:** The Ministry is responsible for managing and overseeing the Bhadrachalam-Kovvur Railway Line project and other railway projects in Andhra Pradesh.
* **Action Required:** Ensure timely completion of projects, monitor budget allocation and utilization, and address factors affecting project timelines.
Key Entities Referenced
Bhadrachalam-Kovvur Railway Line Project: The central subject of the parliamentary question, concerning its survey, completion, funding, revised cost estimates, and reasons for delay.
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry responsible for the Bhadrachalam-Kovvur Railway Line Project.
Andhra Pradesh: The state where the Bhadrachalam-Kovvur Railway Line Project is located, influencing its cost sharing and budgetary allocations.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 735
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026
BHADRACHALAM-KOVVUR RAILWAY LINE PROJECT
735. SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has undertaken any study/survey regarding
the Bhadrachalam-Kovvur Railway line during the last five years and
if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the steps undertaken to expedite completion of the
railway line during the last five years;
(c) the details of the total funding allocated/released/utilised for
completion of the railway line;
(d) whether the Government has initiated/taken steps for revised
estimates for cost of the total project and if so, the details thereof;
and
(e) the details of the reasons of delay in completion of the project and
the steps undertaken by the Government for expedited completion of
the same?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e): Bhadrachalam-Kovvur (119 Km) New Line project was
sanctioned on 50:50 cost sharing basis with Government of Andhra
Pradesh at an anticipated cost of ₹3,796 crore. Out of which,
Bhadrachalam-Satupalli (56 Km) new line project has already been
completed in May 2022.
Contd…2-2-
ANDHRA PRADESH:
Budget allocation in the recent years has increased significantly. Budget
allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly
in the State of Andhra Pradesh is as under:
Period Outlay
2009-2014 ₹886 cr./year (including Telangana)
2025-2026 ₹9,417 cr. (more than 10 times)
The details of commissioning/laying of new track falling fully/partly in the
State of Andhra Pradesh during 2009-14 and 2014-25 is as under:
New Track Average Commissioning of new
Period
Commissioned tracks
2009-14 363 Km 72.6 Km per year
2014-25 1,582 Km 143.82 Km per year (Nearly 2 times)
As on 01.04.2025, 39 projects (12 New Lines and 27 Doubling), covering
total length of 4,499 km length, costing ₹70,232 crore, falling fully/partly
in Andhra Pradesh, have been sanctioned, out of which 1,178 km length
has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹28,039 crore has been
incurred upto March 2025. The status of the work is summarized as:
No. of Total Length Exp upto
Category projects Length Commissioned March 2025
(Km) (Km) (₹ in cr.)
New Line 12 1595 199 6,413
Doubling 27 2904 979 21,626
/Multitracking
TOTAL 39 4,499 1,178 28,039
Zonal Railway wise details of Railway projects are made available in
public domain on Indian Railway’s website.
Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly in
the State of Andhra Pradesh are as under:
Contd…3-3-
S.No. Name of Project Cost
(₹. in cr.)
1 Vijaywada – Gudivada – Bhimavaram - Narsapur, 4,688
Gudivada-Machlipatnam & Bhimavaram-Nidadavolu
doubling (221 Km)
2 Guntur-Tenali doubling (24 Km) 205
3 Nandyal-Yerraguntla new line (126 Km) 1,050
Jaggayyapeta-Mellacheruvu-Janpahad new line
4 737
(48 Km)
5 Obulavaripalle-Krishnapattnam new line (113 Km) 2,300
6 Vizianagaram-Kottavalsa 3rd Line (35 Km) 285
7 Raichur-Guntakal doubling (81 Km) 388
8 Guntakal-Kalluru doubling (41 Km) 410
9 Yelahanka-Penukonda doubling (123 Km) 1,104
10 Gooty-Dharmavaram doubling (90 Km) 1,800
Some of the projects falling fully/partly in the State of Andhra Pradesh
which have been taken up are as under:
S.N Name of Project Cost (Cr)
1 Kotipalli-Narsapur new line (57 Km) 2,120
2 Nadikude-Srikalahasti new line (309 Km) 3,122
3 Rayadurg-Kalyandurg-Tumkur new line (207 Km) 2,496
4 Marikuppam-Kuppam new line (24 Km) 297
5 Malugur – Palasamudram new line (18 Km) 342
6 Malkangiri- Bhadrachalam - Pandurangapuram new 3,592
line (174 Km)
7 Errupalem-Amravati-Namburu new line (57 Km) 2,047
8 Kottavalasa-Koraput Doubling (189 Km) 2,500
9 Vijaywada- Gudur 3rd line (287 Km) 6,509
10 Guntakal- Guntur Doubling (401 Km) 4,306
11 Pennukonda-Dharmavarm Doubling (42 Km) 308
12 Gooty-Pendekallu Doubling (29 Km) 352
13 Duvvada - Simhachalam North 3rd & 4th line (21 Km) 356
14 Kottavalasa - Vizianagram 4th line (35 Km) 493
15 Gudur-Renigunta 3rd Line (83 Km) 877
16 Nergundi - Barang & Khurda Road - Vizianagaram 3rd 4,963
line (385 Km)
Contd…4-4-
In last three Years i.e. 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and current financial
year 2025-26, 65 surveys (15 New Line, 50 Doubling) covering a total
length of 6,985 Km have been taken up falling fully/partly in the State of
Andhra Pradesh.
Sanction of any railway project depend upon many parameters/factors
which include the following:
Anticipated traffic projections and remunerativeness of the proposed
route
First and last mile connectivity provided by the project
Connection of missing links and providing additional route
Augmentation of congested/saturated lines
Demands raised by State Governments/Central Ministries/Public
representatives,
Railway’s operational requirements
Socio-economic considerations
Overall availability of funds
Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors which include
the following:
Land acquisition
Forest clearance
Shifting of infringing utilities
Statutory clearances from various authorities
Geological and topographical conditions of area
Law and order situation in the area of project site
Number of working months in a year for particular project site etc.
All these factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s.
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