NE BUSINESS BUREAU
VISAKHAPATNAM, APR 28
In a major boost to railway infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister for Railways, MeitY and Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Gazette Notification for the creation of the South Coastal Railway Zone will be issued, with June 1, 2026 as the effective date—marking a transformative step in regional railway administration.
Addressing a gathering in Visakhapatnam after the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Google Cloud India AI Hub, the Minister underscored the scale of expansion underway in the state.
- Ashwini Vaishnaw announces Gazette for South Coastal Railway from June 1, 2026
- ₹10,134 crore allocation, ₹1.06 lakh crore projects power connectivity, ports, tourism links
- 100% electrification achieved; 74 stations set for landmark redevelopment
- ‘High-Speed Diamond’ vision promises faster inter-city travel across southern corridors
He revealed that Andhra Pradesh has secured a record railway budget allocation of ₹10,134 crore—far surpassing the ₹886 crore allocated in earlier years for the combined state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Building ‘AI’patnam…
📍Visakhapatnam pic.twitter.com/C9E3a7ri6w— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) April 28, 2026
Highlighting ongoing works, the Minister said railway projects worth approximately ₹1,06,000 crore are currently in progress, aimed at strengthening connectivity to ports, tourism destinations and major urban centres.
On infrastructure, he described the redevelopment of 74 railway stations across Andhra Pradesh as a historic national milestone. The state has also witnessed the completion of 832 flyovers and underpasses, while 299 more are under construction. Additionally, 1,759 km of railway track has been completed, with another 3,300 km under development.
The Minister emphasised that Andhra Pradesh has now achieved 100% electrification of its railway network, positioning it among India’s frontrunners in railway modernisation.
On passenger services, he noted that 16 Vande Bharat trains and 22 Amrit Bharat services are currently operational in the state, significantly enhancing travel speed and comfort.
Further, the entire East Coast Railway corridor is being upgraded into a four-line network, expected to double capacity and enable the operation of up to 500 additional trains. Strengthening cargo and container train services, he said, will improve connectivity between ports, tourism hubs and major cities, boosting logistics and economic growth.
Outlining future plans, Ashwini Vaishnaw detailed a proposed high-speed rail grid across southern India, termed the “High-Speed Diamond”, with projected travel times:
- Amaravati–Hyderabad: ~70 minutes
- Amaravati–Chennai: ~112 minutes
- Hyderabad–Pune: ~1 hour 55 minutes
- Pune–Mumbai: ~48 minutes
- Chennai–Bengaluru: ~73 minutes
- Hyderabad–Bengaluru: ~2 hours 8 minutes
He described the network as a game-changer for mobility, economic integration and regional growth.
“These initiatives reflect the Union Government’s commitment to transform Andhra Pradesh into a major railway and logistics hub,” the Minister said, adding that balanced infrastructure development across southern states remains a priority.
He further emphasised that the NDA government is committed to ensuring equitable growth and welfare, while alleging that opposition parties are politicising development issues.
