New Delhi, June 8, 2026: Indian Railways has cleared three infrastructure projects worth ₹668.09 crore to strengthen rail capacity and improve operations on key corridors in Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana.
The approvals include the doubling of the Mararikulam-Alappuzha section in Kerala, the upgradation of the electric traction system on the Bengaluru-Tumkur section in Karnataka and a similar traction system upgrade on the Mahbubnagar-Secunderabad-Medchal section in Telangana.
In Kerala, Indian Railways has approved the doubling of the 10.65 Km Mararikulam-Alappuzha section of Southern Railway at a sanctioned cost of ₹220.51 crore.
The section is the only remaining single-line stretch on the Ernakulam-Turavur-Alappuzha-Ambalapuzha-Kayankulam corridor, where other doubling works have either been commissioned or are under implementation.
Once completed, the project is expected to allow the operation of 9 additional passenger trains in each direction per day and support freight traffic of 2.88 million tonnes per annum.
The Ministry of Railways said the project is also expected to generate additional net earnings of about ₹3.08 crore annually through higher passenger and freight movement.
The doubling work has been identified under Mission 3000 MT and the High Density Traffic Network Corridor of Indian Railways.
The project has demonstrated strong economic viability, with a Financial Internal Rate of Return (FIRR) of 3.99 per cent and an Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of 22.30 per cent, according to the ministry.
In Karnataka, Indian Railways has sanctioned the upgradation of the electric traction system on the Bengaluru-Tumkur section of South Western Railway at a cost of ₹162.57 crore.
The project will convert the existing 1×25 kV electric traction system to a 2×25 kV system over a stretch of 120 Track Kilometres.
The Bengaluru-Tumkur section is part of the Highly Utilized Network Route-10, which connects major economic and industrial centres along the Pune-Hubballi-Chikjajur-Birur-Tumkur-Bengaluru-Salem-Kanniyakumari corridor.
The upgraded traction system is expected to strengthen power supply for train operations and help the section handle higher traffic volumes.
It is also expected to support heavier freight trains and longer passenger services while improving the reliability of electric traction infrastructure.
In Telangana, Indian Railways has sanctioned the upgradation of the electric traction system on the Mahbubnagar-Secunderabad-Medchal section of South Central Railway.
The project will upgrade the existing 1×25 kV electric traction system to a 2×25 kV system over an approximately 141 route Km section at a cost of ₹285.01 crore.
The section forms part of an important High-Density Network route on the Dharmavaram-Dhone-Mahbubnagar-Secunderabad-Medchal-Mudkhed-Indore-Ajmer rail corridor, which carries substantial passenger and freight traffic.
The Ministry said the upgraded system will provide a more stable and efficient power supply for train operations, making services smoother, safer and more reliable.
Together, the three projects are aimed at easing congestion, increasing line and traction capacity, improving punctuality and supporting smoother passenger and freight movement across important southern railway corridors.
