Guntur: Indian Railways has achieved a major engineering milestone in the ongoing Guntur–Guntakal Doubling Project with the successful breakthrough of the 320-metre-long Gazulapalli–Chelama tunnel in Andhra Pradesh. The development, announced by the Ministry of Railways and the South Central Railway (SCR), marks significant progress in strengthening rail infrastructure across the Rayalaseema region.

The breakthrough clears the way for track laying and associated infrastructure works in this critical section, bringing the project closer to enabling faster, smoother and higher-frequency train operations between Guntur and Guntakal.

Strategic Corridor Upgrade

The Guntur–Guntakal Doubling and Electrification Project spans approximately 401 km and was sanctioned in 2016–17 at an estimated cost ranging between ₹3,631 crore and ₹4,306 crore. The project aims to convert the existing single-line broad-gauge corridor into a fully doubled and electrified route.

Once completed, the upgraded corridor is expected to:

• Decongest one of Andhra Pradesh’s key rail routes

• Increase average train speeds

• Enable additional passenger and freight services

• Boost regional trade and economic development

The line serves major districts including Guntur, Palnadu, Prakasam, Nandyal, Kurnool and Anantapuramu, connecting Rayalaseema with coastal Andhra and beyond.

Engineering Challenges in Hilly Terrain

A particularly complex segment of the project lies between Diguvametta and Gazulapalli, where the railway alignment passes through rugged and hilly terrain, requiring extensive tunnelling works.

The 320-metre Gazulapalli–Chelama tunnel forms part of the doubling works in the Diguvametta–Gazulapalli stretch. The section also includes key tunnels such as the longer Bogada tunnel, measuring around 1.6 km.

Historically, during the metre-gauge era, tunnels in this region had different alignments and lengths. For instance, the original Chelama tunnel measured around 1.25 km and the Bogada tunnel approximately 1.35 km. During the broad-gauge conversion in the late 1990s, new tunnels were constructed with revised specifications to meet modern operational requirements.

The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract covering the tunnels and their approaches—spanning about 6.10 km—was awarded around mid-2024. Construction activities have since progressed steadily, culminating in the latest breakthrough.

Current Progress and Timeline

As of early 2026, more than 343–359 km of the total project length has been commissioned in phases. The remaining sections, including the technically demanding Diguvametta–Gazulapalli stretch, are targeted for completion during 2025–26 and 2026–27.

Railway officials describe the tunnel breakthrough as a crucial step toward finalising one of the most challenging segments of the corridor.

Expected Impact on Connectivity

Upon full completion, the doubling and electrification project is expected to significantly enhance connectivity across Andhra Pradesh. Benefits include:

• Reduced travel time on the Guntur–Guntakal corridor

• Increased capacity for additional passenger trains linking Rayalaseema to Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and other major destinations

• Improved freight movement supporting industries and agriculture

• Greater operational reliability and energy efficiency

The milestone aligns with Indian Railways’ broader infrastructure acceleration efforts under national modernisation initiatives, including Amrit Bharat. Officials from the Ministry of Railways and South Central Railway have described the breakthrough as a strong boost to connectivity, logistics efficiency and regional development in the state.

With tunnelling progress now advancing, the project moves a step closer to transforming one of southern India’s vital rail arteries into a high-capacity, fully electrified double-line corridor. DeshGujarat