Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh has been allocated Rs 9,417 crore for railways in the Union Budget for 2025-26. The budget details were shared during a virtual press conference on Monday by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav. The minister said the state’s railway funding has consistently increased. While the average annual railway budget allocation for combined Andhra Pradesh between 2009 and 2014 was only Rs 886 crore, the current year’s allocation is 11 times greater than that average.
The minister further noted that all railway lines in the state are now 100% electrified. Between 2014 and 2025, an average of 142 km of new railway tracks have been laid each year, compared to just 73 km per year during 2009-14. He emphasised that 1,560 km of new railway tracks have been constructed in the state since 2014, which is more than the entire work in Sri Lanka.
The railway minister also shared that, across the country, 43 projects are currently underway. These projects involve laying 5,560 km of new tracks, with a total investment of Rs 80,097 crore. In Andhra Pradesh, eight Vande Bharat trains have been introduced, covering 15 districts with 21 unique stoppages. Additionally, one Amrit Bharat Express, connecting Malda Town to Bengaluru, covers nine districts and 14 stoppages in the state.
As part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, The Redevelopment of Stations in Visakhapatnam, Nellore, Tirupati, and Rajahmundry is underwide with ₹ 1,132.43 Croore. Furthermore, 73 other stations will also undergo redevelopment with a total investment of ₹ 2,051 crore. The Stations To Be Developed Include: Adoni, Anakapalli, Anaparthi, Araku, Bapatla, Bhimavaram Town, Bobbili Junction, Chipurupalli, Chittoor, Cuddapah, Dhone, Dhone, Dhonda Vvada, Elamanchili, Eluru, Giddalur, Gooty Gudivada, Gudur, Gunadala, Guntur, Hindupur, Ichchpuram, Kadiri, Kakinada Town Junction, Kottavalasa Junction, Kurnool City, Machilipnam, Mangalagiriyam, Mangalagiriyam OAD, Nadikude Junction, Nandyal Junction, Narasapur, Narasaraopet, Naupada Junction, Nidadavolu Junction, Pakala Junction, Palasa, Parvatipuram, Piduguralla, Piler, Rayanapadu, Rayanapadu, Rayanapadu, Rayanapadu, Sattya Sai Prasanti Imhachalam, Singaraykonda, Sri Kalahasti, Srikakulam Road, Sullurpeta, Tadepalligudem, Tadipatri, Tenali, Tuni, Vijayawada, Vinukonda, and Vizianagaram Junction.
Following the virtual press conference, DRMs of Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Guntur divisions briefed the media regarding the classification of funds. Visakhapatnam DRM Manoj Kumar Sahoo said 10 stations in the state will be redeveloped with an investment exceeding Rs800 crore. Major redevelopment works are also progressing at Visakhapatnam station with an additional investment of over Rs800 crore. He further announced that the redevelopment work at Visakhapatnam station, which had stalled previously, will resume, as tenders have been reissued with a budget of Rs 500 crore.
Vijayawada DRM Narendra A. Patil announced that a new railway line connecting Errupalem and Nambur via Amaravati will be completed within four years. He said this line would enhance connectivity between Amaravati and other locations, including Guntur, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and Chennai. He announced that the Vijayawada division recorded an income of Rs4,865 crore by January 2025, with a 3.63 per cent increase compared to the previous year. He also mentioned that Vijayawada railway station has been recognised for generating an annual income of Rs 500 crore. Additionally, Rs271 crore has been allocated for development projects at Rajamahendravaram railway station.
