Cabinet approves 3rd & 4th line of Ballari-Guntakal railway section (Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh)

📌 Summary:

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Modi, approved the 3rd and 4th line of the Ballari-Guntakal section in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
• Total estimated cost Rs.1,264 crore; targeted completion by 2028-29; adds about 46 km to the existing Indian Railways network across 3 districts
• Planned on the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity and logistics efficiency through integrated planning
• Will connect ~99 villages (population ~7 lakh) and improve access to tourist sites (Ballari Fort, Sri Kumara Swamy Temple)
• Key freight route for iron ore, dolomite, limestone, iron & steel, coal, fertilizers, food grains; adds freight capacity of 16.22 MTPA
• Environmental/economic gains: reduces oil imports by 1.32 crore litres and CO2 emissions by 6.67 crore kg (≈ planting 0.27 crore trees); eases congestion and improves operational reliability

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 (Indian Economy) — infrastructure, PM-Gati Shakti multi-modal integration, freight logistics and the link between rail expansion, energy efficiency and climate goals.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Project: 3rd & 4th line, Ballari-Guntakal section; cost Rs.1,264 crore; ~46 km; 3 districts (Karnataka & AP)
• Aligned with PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan; freight addition 16.22 MTPA
• Cuts oil import by 1.32 crore litres, CO2 by 6.67 crore kg

🔑 Key Term: PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan — a digital platform for integrated, multi-modal infrastructure planning across ministries to reduce logistics costs.