| Kothapalli-Manoharabad line | |
| Color: | red |
| System: | Single Diesel Railway Line |
| Status: | Partially Operational |
| Locale: | Telangana |
| Stations: | 15 |
| Routes: | Delhi–Chennai line Secunderabad–Manmad line Peddapalli-Nizambad line |
| Yearcommenced: | 2016 |
| Open: | (est.) Manoharabad-Siddipet section inaugurated [1] |
| Owner: | Indian Railways |
| Operator: | South Central Railway zone |
| Linelength: | 151km (94miles) |
| Gauge: | broad gauge |
| Electrification: | NA |
| Speed Km/H: | 100 |
The Kothapalli–Manoharabad line is a single-track broad-gauge railway line under construction in the Indian state of Telangana.[2] Its purpose is to reduce the distance from Karimnagar to Hyderabad and provide railway connectivity to districts such as Siddipet and Sircilla. The line will connect Manoharabad to Kothapally in the South Central Railway zone.
The line roughly follows State Highway 17 from Manoharabad until it reaches Gajwel where it begins to follow State Highway 1 until Siddipet. It continues north to Sircilla, envisioned to allow easy access to the Raja Rajeswara Temple, Vemulawada and roughly following National Highway 365B. The line terminates at Kottapalli, which is near National Highway 563.
The Survey work for the line was reportedly completed sometime in 2005.[3] After the formation of Telangana, the line was fast-tracked and received Centre approval. The foundation stone was laid on 8 August 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[4]
In 2020, track on this line was tested to Gajwel. On 29 June 2022, the railway line from Manoharabad to Kothapalli received its first freight shipment at Gajwel.[5] In 2023, Rs 185 crores were allocated to the project in the Union Budget. This was estimated to fund the line to Sircilla.[6]
The Manoharabad - Siddipet portion of the line was inaugurated on 3 October 2023 with a Secunderabad-Siddipet DEMU service.[7] [8] The remaining work, from Siddipet to Kothapalli, was to be completed by 2026.[9] [10]
In 2024, 350 crores were allocated to the project in the Union Budget.[11] In the year 2024, an infrastructure push by the state government laid the foundation stone for the Komuravelli railway station to ensure easy access to the Komrelly Mallanna Temple.[12] Footage from April 2024 showed ground work occurring at the Kottapalli railway station in order to add a second platform and track for the railway line.[13] [14] Footage also showed progress from Siddipet to Siricilla in May 2024.[15]
Stations include:[16]