South Coastal Railway Zone to Become Reality from June 1; Andhra Pradesh Gets Massive Rail Push: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday announced that the Gazette Notification for the creation of the South Coastal Railway Zone will be issued soon, with June 1, 2026 set as the effective date. The announcement was made while addressing a gathering after the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Google Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam.
The Minister said the new railway zone would mark a major milestone in strengthening railway administration and operational efficiency in Andhra Pradesh. The long-awaited South Coastal Railway Zone is expected to improve project execution, passenger services, freight movement and regional connectivity across the state.
Vaishnaw also revealed that Andhra Pradesh has received a record railway budget allocation of ₹10,134 crore, significantly higher than the earlier allocation of ₹886 crore that was provided when Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were part of a combined state.
He said the Centre has undertaken railway infrastructure works worth approximately ₹1,06,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh, making it one of the largest railway investment phases in the state’s history.
Key Railway Investments in Andhra Pradesh
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Railway Budget Allocation | ₹10,134 crore |
| Earlier Allocation (Combined AP & Telangana) | ₹886 crore |
| Ongoing Railway Projects | ₹1,06,000 crore |
| Effective Date of South Coastal Railway Zone | June 1, 2026 |
The Minister stated that these investments are focused on improving rail connectivity to ports, tourism centres, industrial hubs and major cities, which will help accelerate economic growth and logistics development in the state.
Major Infrastructure Achievements
Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that 74 railway stations in Andhra Pradesh are currently being reconstructed and redeveloped under modern station redevelopment schemes. He described it as a historic transformation of railway infrastructure in the state.
He also shared progress in road-rail safety and track expansion projects.
| Infrastructure Works | Status |
|---|---|
| Flyovers & Underpasses Completed | 832 |
| Flyovers & Underpasses Under Construction | 299 |
| Railway Track Completed | 1,759 km |
| Railway Track Under Construction | 3,300 km |
The Minister further announced that Andhra Pradesh has now achieved 100% electrification of its railway network, placing it among the leading states in railway modernisation. Full electrification is expected to reduce fuel costs, improve train speeds, lower emissions and ensure smoother operations.
Passenger Train Services Expanded
On passenger amenities, Vaishnaw said Andhra Pradesh is currently served by:
| Train Type | Number of Services |
|---|---|
| Vande Bharat Trains | 16 |
| Amrit Bharat Trains | 22 |
He said these premium services are improving travel comfort, reducing journey times and enhancing inter-city mobility for passengers.
East Coast Corridor to Become Four-Line Network
In a major announcement, the Minister said the entire East Coast Railway Corridor is being upgraded into a four-line rail network. Once completed, the corridor’s carrying capacity is expected to double, enabling the operation of up to 500 additional trains.
He said cargo and container train operations would also be expanded to strengthen connectivity between ports, industrial clusters and tourism destinations. This is expected to significantly boost exports, freight efficiency and coastal economic growth.
Proposed High-Speed “Diamond Network”
Vaishnaw also outlined an ambitious future high-speed rail connectivity plan for southern India, which he described as a “High-Speed Diamond.”
| Proposed Corridor | Estimated Travel Time |
|---|---|
| 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 said the proposed network would transform mobility, improve business travel, attract investments and deepen economic integration across southern states.
Centre Committed to Southern States
Concluding his address, the Railway Minister said these initiatives reflect the Union Government’s commitment to turning Andhra Pradesh into a major railway and logistics hub.
He added that the NDA government at the Centre is committed to balanced development, infrastructure growth and public welfare in southern states. Vaishnaw also accused opposition parties of politicising developmental issues.
