INDIA —The Ministry of Railways has officially commissioned the double-line rail section between Nandyal and Gazulapalli, spanning 15.121 kilometers. Operating under the administrative jurisdiction of the South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone, the newly operational segment forms part of the broader 401-kilometer Guntur-Guntakal Doubling and Electrification Project. Originally sanctioned in the 2016-17 financial year with an estimated outlay of 38.87 billion Indian rupees, the revised project cost has escalated to approximately 43.06 billion Indian rupees.
The Ministry of Railways is the central government body responsible for planning, developing, and operating the national railway network across India. The South Coast Railway (SCoR) is one of the administrative zones of Indian Railways, managing regional rail transport operations and infrastructure networks in southeastern India. The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) functions as an independent regulatory authority under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, mandated to inspect railway lines and authorize passenger and freight operations.
Following statutory inspection and safety assessment, the Commissioner of Railway Safety granted speed authorization on November 3, 2026, permitting train operations at speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour. The commissioning eliminates a critical capacity constraint along the Howrah-Visakhapatnam route, providing increased operational flexibility, easing congestion, and facilitating smoother transit for both passenger and freight traffic connecting Andhra Pradesh's Rayalaseema region with eastern maritime and industrial hubs.
This infrastructure expansion delivers strategic commercial benefits by streamlining heavy freight logistics and passenger transit across southeastern rail corridors. For industrial manufacturers, logistics providers, and regional commercial enterprises, enhanced line capacity reduces transit delays, lowers logistics overhead, and strengthens supply chain integration between inland production centers and coastal shipping ports.
