
VIJAYAWADA: Unveiling a budget with an outlay of Rs 2,52,200 crore for the financial year 2025-26, Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the allocation of Rs 9,417 crore for Andhra Pradesh, an increase of a whopping Rs 266 crore from Rs 9,151 crore allocated in the previous financial year.
Vaishnaw highlighted that this amount is 11 times more than what united Andhra Pradesh received under the UPA regime (Rs 886 crore). In contrast, the neighbouring Telugu State of Telangana was allocated Rs 5,337 crore.
Speaking during a media conference in New Delhi on Monday, he revealed that Rs 84,559 crore is being invested in ongoing infrastructure projects in the State. He explained that 73 railway stations are being redeveloped and fully modernised in Andhra Pradesh.
Highlighting the State’s achievements, Vaishnaw said, “Total electrification has been completed in the State. In the last 10 years, 1,560 km of new tracks have been laid in the State, which is more than the entire rail network of Sri Lanka. Electrification was carried out at a rate of 177 km per year, compared to just 37 km per year under the UPA regime.”
Appreciating Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Vaishnaw said there has been excellent coordination and cooperation between the State and the Centre.
Vande Bharat sleeper train between Visakhapatnam and Tirupati likely
On Vande Bharat trains, Vaishnaw stated that 15 districts in the State are already covered, with plans to launch more such trains in the future. Further, Vaishnaw announced the approval of 50 new Namo Bharat trains, 200 Vande Bharat trains, and 100 new Amrit Bharat trains for the entire country, with their launch dates to be announced in due course.
He also pointed out that the Amrit Bharat Express, running between Malda Town and Bengaluru, now has 14 stoppages in Andhra Pradesh. Regarding the demand for Vande Bharat sleeper trains, particularly the request for a train between Visakhapatnam and Tirupati, the Union Minister assured that announcements would be made when they are ready.
“We are now on a mission to replace old tracks with new ones. Currently, we are replacing 7,000 km of railway tracks across the country,” he said.
Vaishnaw further mentioned that Indian Railways plans to upgrade railway tracks to enable trains to run at speeds of 160 km/h on important sections. Other routes will have the capacity to run trains at speeds of 130 km/h, while the entire network will be capable of supporting trains running at 100 km/h.
Detailing the highlights of the budgetary allocations to the State and the performance of the Vijayawada Railway Division of SCR, Divisional Railway Manager Narendra A Patil stated that railway connectivity to Amaravati had been approved in October 2024, with `2,245 crore earmarked for the project. “Once completed, this will provide rail connectivity from Amaravati to Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, and other locations. The target is to complete the project within four years, and it will create 19 lakh man-days of work,” he said.