The Mahabubnagar-Munirabad section is an under construction railway section project of the Indian Railways. The section falls under the administration of Guntakal of South Central Railway zone and Hubballi Railway Division of South Western Railway Zone. This serves as the shortest route to Hyderabad-Hubballi and Hyderabad-Goa routes.
About the line
The project was initially sanctioned in the year 1997 when H. D. Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister of India. The 274 km long Mahabubnagar to Munirabad new line project was sanctioned with a latest estimated cost of Rs 3,543 crores. This new line project has five sections: Mahabubnagar - Devarkadra, Devarkadra – Krishna Jn, Krishna Jn - Raichur Jn, Raichur Jn - Ginigera Jn and Ginigera Jn - Munirabad.
The new line project will help in expanding the rail network between Hyderabad and the mining belt of Karnataka. Several materials such as iron ore, cement, steel, and many others can now be transported through this alternate route.
The South Central Railway zone of the line is completed now. The Devarkadre - Jaklair part was completed in 2017, Maganoor - Krishna Jn portion of the line was completed on 9 February 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the course of his visit to Telangana, dedicated the Krishna - Maganoor - Jaklair section to the nation on 1 October 2023.
In late 2023, it was announced the section between Devarkadra and Krishna will be fully electrified.
In the portion of the line that is with South Western Railway zone, the Ginigera - Chikkabenakal section(26 KM) was opened on 31st March 2017, Chikkabenakal-Gangavathi section (13 KM) was opened on 04th March 2019. The Gangavathi- Karatagi section(26 KM) was inaugurated on 10th November 2021.The Karatagi-Sindhanur section(20 KM) was inaugurated on 15th March 2024. With this Ginigera-Sindhanur (85 KM) out of 165 KM is completed and remaining balance rail line construction is going on.
The works on the only missing link of the line that is between Sindhanur and Raichur is in progress and is scheduled to complete by 2027.
Construction Timeline and Status
1997 — The broader Mahabubnagar–Munirabad project was initially sanctioned.
2007–08 — The Ginigera–Raichur portion/project was sanctioned as part of the larger project.
30 November 2013 — A detailed estimate for the Ginigera–Raichur line was sanctioned by the Railway Board for ₹1,350.91 crore.
+ South Central Railway (SCR)+ Telangana State+ Devarkadra to Krishna Section (66 Route Km) Year / Date Section Status 2017 Devarkadra–Jaklair 9 February 2023 Maganoor–Krishna Junction 1 October 2023 Krishna–Maganoor–Jaklair
+ South Western Railway (SWR)+ Karnataka State+ Ginigera to Raichur Section (165 Route Km) Date Section Status 31 March 2017 Ginigera–Chikkabenakal (26 km) 4 March 2019 Chikkabenakal–Gangavathi (13 km) 10 November 2021 Gangavathi–Karatagi (26 km) 15 March 2024 Karatagi–Sindhanur (20 km) 2024–2027 Sindhanur–Raichur (80 Km)
References