Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has underscored rail connectivity as a critical pillar in the state’s ambition to emerge as a national logistics hub, calling for accelerated execution of railway projects and closer alignment with the state’s agricultural, industrial, and port-led growth strategy.
Reviewing railway projects at the Secretariat in Amaravati on Wednesday, January 28, the Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh must set a national benchmark in railway infrastructure development to support world-class logistics and seamless movement of goods and passengers.
Fast-Tracking Rail Projects and Station Modernisation
Naidu stressed that all 73 railway stations selected under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Andhra Pradesh must be fully developed by 2027. He also called for the complete modernisation of Rajamahendravaram railway station ahead of the Godavari Pushkaralu, with adequate preparedness to handle large pilgrim inflows.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that 1,012 special trains and 2,370 additional coaches are being planned to manage festival traffic. The Vijayawada railway station modernisation is being implemented in PPP mode and is targeted for completion before the Krishna Pushkaralu in 2028.
Rail Logistics for Agriculture and Industry
Highlighting the state’s strong agricultural base, Naidu said rail connectivity must be strengthened to efficiently transport nearly 225 million metric tonnes of horticulture produce generated annually in Andhra Pradesh to markets across the country. He directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan for agricultural and industrial rail logistics.
The Chief Minister emphasised that hinterland regions of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh should be seamlessly connected to Andhra Pradesh’s ports to boost cargo movement and trade competitiveness.
Port and Industrial Connectivity in Focus
With ports and fishing harbours being developed roughly every 50 km along the coastline, Naidu said main railway corridors must be rapidly linked to:
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Moolapeta
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Visakhapatnam
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Kakinada
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Machilipatnam
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Ramayapatnam
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Krishnapatnam ports
He also noted that the Tirupati–Renigunta region is emerging as a major industrial hub and said enhanced rail connectivity would enable faster and more cost-effective movement of industrial goods.
New Lines, Capacity Expansion and Monitoring
Naidu called for the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) within three years for a four-line railway corridor between Itchapuram and Tada, after evaluating existing two- and three-line sections. The state government, he assured, is ready to provide the required land for railway expansion.
To ensure effective implementation, the Chief Minister directed the appointment of deputy tahsildars in all 25 parliamentary constituencies to monitor railway projects, land acquisition, and associated processes. Railway line development, he said, must match the pace of national highway expansion, with Andhra Pradesh treated as a single coordinated unit for execution.
Improving Regional and Capital Connectivity
Naidu emphasised the need to improve connectivity between Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra to ease congestion at major railway junctions such as Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntakal, Guntur, and Renigunta.
He urged Indian Railways to expedite:
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Errupalem–Namburu (Amaravati New Line)
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Rail links connecting Amaravati with Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai
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Kadapa–Bengaluru broad gauge line
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Expansion of terminals at Vijayawada and Guntur
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Construction of new terminals at Amaravati and Gannavaram
Massive Investment Pipeline
The Chief Minister reviewed railway projects worth ₹34,310 crore, covering 39 new railway lines spanning 2,318 km, with 201 km targeted for completion this year. He also discussed proposals for high-speed rail corridors, noting that Andhra Pradesh’s railway density remains lower than several other states, necessitating focused planning—especially to better integrate Rayalaseema with coastal districts.
Railways–State Coordination Strengthened
Senior officials from South Central Railway (SCR), East Coast Railway, and South Coast Railway attended the meeting, including:
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Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, GM, SCR
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Parmeshwar Funkwal, GM, East Coast Railway
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Sandeep Mathur, GM, South Coast Railway
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K. Padmaja, PCOM, SCR
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Ranadheer Reddy M, CAO/Construction, SCR
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Sandeep Jain, SCR
Discussions covered key projects such as:
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Kotipalli–Narsapur
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Nadikudi–Srikalahasti
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Errupalem–Namburu (Amaravati New Line)
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Bhadrachalam Road–Kovvur
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Vijayawada Bypass Line
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Doubling of Tirupati–Katpadi
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Third line works between Renigunta–Gudur
Railway officials reaffirmed their commitment to modernising infrastructure, improving passenger experience, and ensuring timely project delivery through close coordination with the state government.
