New Rail Lines Proposed To Boost Ongole-Guntur Connectivity

Several new railway line and capacity-enhancement projects are proposed for the Ongole-Guntur section and neighbouring districts, with Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy seeking details in Parliament on projects sanctioned, proposed and under construction.

Replying to his question, Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said a 287-km third line was being constructed to strengthen connectivity between Ongole, Vijayawada and Gudur. A final survey had also been sanctioned for the proposed 87-km Ongole-Dornakonda new railway line.

A project report had been prepared for a 782-km fourth line between Balharshah-Tenali-Ongole-Guntur, while work on the 309-km Nadikudi-Srikalahasti new line was progressing. Over Rs 2,384 crore had been spent on the project against its estimated cost of Rs 3,407 crore.

Project reports had also been initiated for the 46-km Piduguralla-Savalyapuram and 79-km Gundlakamma-Kanigiri lines. The minister said new projects would be sanctioned only after detailed project reports were prepared and consultations held with stakeholders.

Railway expenditure in Andhra Pradesh had increased from an annual average of `886 crore during 2009-24 to Rs 10,134 crore in 2026-27. As of April 1, 2026, 12 new-line and 30 doubling projects covering 4,768 km, at an estimated cost of Rs 27,851 crore, were under construction, while 12 projects had recently been completed.