**Executive Summary**
This document contains the answer to Starred Question No. 48 in Lok Sabha, to be answered on 03.12.2025, regarding the Machilipatnam and Repalle railway line. The statement addresses the long-pending demand for the railway line, its potential benefits, details of goods transportation, reasons for delayed construction, and completion timeline. A statement is laid on the Table of the House with additional details.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Machilipatnam-Repalle Connectivity:**
* Machilipatnam and Repalle are already connected via Vijayawada Junction.
* Doubling of Machilipatnam-Gudivada-Vijayawada line has been completed to improve connectivity to Machilipatnam port.
* A survey for a new railway line (45.30 Km) between Machilipatnam and Repalle has been sanctioned, and field surveys are underway for the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
* **Additional Surveys for Improved Connectivity:**
* Surveys for the following lines have been sanctioned for DPR preparation:
* Machilipatnam-Narsapur new line (74 Km)
* Repalle-Bapatla new line (46 Km)
* Gudur-Vijayawada 4th line (293 Km)
* Vijaywada bypass line (Indupalli - Duggirala) (49 Km)
* **Project Sanctioning Process:**
* Sanctioning requires consultation with stakeholders including State Governments.
* Necessary approvals include appraisal by NITI Aayog and Ministry of Finance.
* Timelines depend on appraisal and approval by various stakeholders.
* **Andhra Pradesh Budget Allocation and Projects:**
* Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works has increased.
* Budget allocation is ₹886 cr/year (including Telangana) for 2009-2014.
* Budget allocation is ₹9,417 cr. for 2025-2026.
* **Track Commissioning (2009-2025):**
* 2009-14: 363 km commissioned.
* 2014-25: 1,582 km commissioned (More than 4 times that of 2009-14)
* **Status of Projects in Andhra Pradesh (as of 01.04.2025):**
* 39 projects (12 New Lines, 27 Doubling) sanctioned, covering 4,498 km.
* Total cost: ₹70,231 crore.
* 1,179 km commissioned with expenditure of ₹28,039 crore up to March 2025.
* **Recently Completed Projects (Examples):**
* Vijaywada – Gudivada – Bhimavaram - Narsapur, Gudivada-Machlipatnam&Bhimavaram-Nidadavolu doubling (221 km) : ₹4,688 crore
* Obulavaripalle-Krishnapattnam new line (113 km): ₹2,300 crore
* **Projects Underway (Examples):**
* Kotipalli-Narsapur new line (57 Km): ₹2,120 crore
* Vijaywada-Gudur 3rd line (287 Km): ₹6,509 crore
* **Recent Survey Activity (2022-2026):**
* 64 surveys (15 New Line, 49 Doubling) covering 6,967 km have been taken up falling fully/partly in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
* **Factors Affecting Project Sanction and Completion:**
* Traffic projections, connectivity, missing links, congestion, demands, railway requirements, socio-economic factors, and funds.
* Land acquisition, forest clearance, utility shifting, statutory clearances, geological conditions, law & order, and working months.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Diviseema and Avanigadda People in Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** The railway line is a long-pending demand for improved connectivity.
* **Action Required:** Await the completion of the survey and subsequent project approvals.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Railways**
* **Impact:** Responsible for planning, surveying, and executing the railway projects.
* **Action Required:** Continue with the DPR preparation, stakeholder consultations, and project sanctioning processes.
**Stakeholder: NITI Aayog and Ministry of Finance**
* **Impact:** Responsible for appraising and approving the project.
* **Action Required:** Review the DPR and provide necessary approvals for the project.
**Stakeholder: State Government of Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Required to consult on the preparation of DPR.
* **Action Required:** Coordinate with the Ministry of Railways to facilitate land acquisition, clearances, and project implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Machilipatnam and Repalle Railway Line: Proposed railway line between Machilipatnam and Repalle in Andhra Pradesh, India, and related railway projects in the area.
Andhra Pradesh: The state in which the railway line and related projects are located and relevant budget allocations.
Ministry of Railways: The Indian ministry responsible for overseeing and implementing the railway projects.
Lok Sabha: The house of the Indian Parliament where the question regarding the railway line was raised.
NITI Aayog: Think tank for the Indian government; involvement required for project approval.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.48
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025
MACHILIPATNAM AND REPALLE RAILWAY LINE
*48. SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI :
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that Machilipatnam and Repalle railway line
is a long-pending demand of Diviseema and Avanigadda people in
Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is a fact that after completion of the project, this
small stretch will save 55 kms. of train journey and nearly 1½ hours
of time and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of usefulness of this stretch for transportation of
goods since Machilipatnam port is coming up;
(d) the details of the reasons for pending construction of this
stretch since long; and
(e) the details of the timeline by which this stretch is going to be
completed?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF
STARRED QUESTION NO.48 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON
03.12.2025
(a) to (e) Machilipatnam and Repalleare already connected via
Vijayawada Junction on the existing railway network. Recently
doubling of Machilipatnam-Gudivada-Vijayawada has been
completed which will improve the connectivity to Machlipatnam
port.
To provide direct and shorter connectivity between Machilipatnam
and Repalle, a survey for construction of new railway line (45.30
Km) has been sanctioned.The field survey has been taken up to
prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Further, to improve the connectivity in the region, following surveys
have been sanctioned for preparation of the DPR:
SN Name of Surveys Length (Km)
1 Machilipatnam-Narsapur new line 74
2 Repalle-Bapatlanew line 46
3 Gudur-Vijayawada 4th line 293
4 Vijaywada bypass line (Indupalli - 49
Duggirala)
After preparation of DPR, sanctioning of project requires
consultation with various stake-holders including State Governments
and necessary approvals viz. appraisal of NITI Aayog, Ministry of
Finance etc. As sanctioning of projects is a continuous and dynamic
process, exact timelines depend upon appraisal and approval by
various stakeholders.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.
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 -
2014-25 1,582 km More than 4 times
As on 01.04.2025, 39 projects (12 New Lines and 27 Doubling),
covering total length of 4,498 km length, costing ₹70,231 crore,
falling fully/partly in Andhra Pradesh, have been sanctioned, out of
which 1,179 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:
N o. of Total Length Balance Expupto March
Plan projects Length Commi to 2025
Head (km) ssioned complete (₹. in cr.)
(Km) (km)
New 12 1595 199 1395 6,413
Line
Double 27 2904 979 1925 21,626
Line
TOTAL 39 4,498 1,179 3,320 28,039Details of some of the recently completed projects falling
fully/partly in the State of Andhra Pradesh are as under:
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 2,496
Km)
4 Marikuppam-Kuppam new line (24 Km) 297
5 Malugur – Palasamudram new line (18 Km) 342
6 Malkangiri- Bhadrachalam - 3,592
Pandurangapuram new line (174 Km)
7 Errupalem-Amravati-Namburu new line (57 2,047
Km)
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 356
(21 Km)
14 Kottavalasa - Vizianagram 4th line (35 Km) 493S.N Name of Project Cost
(Cr)
15 Gudur-Renigunta 3rd Line (83 Km) 877
16 Nergundi - Palasa- Vizianagaram 3rd line (385 4,963
Km)
In last three Years i.e. 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and current
financial year 2025-26, 64 surveys (15 New Line, 49 Doubling)
covering a total length of 6,967 km has 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 own 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.
****