Centre prioritised railway infra development in Andhra Pradesh, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Published 24 July 2026 · politics

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Rajya Sabha on Friday that the Central Government had prioritised railway infrastructure development in Andhra Pradesh, scaling up

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Rajya Sabha on Friday that the Central Government had prioritised railway infrastructure development in Andhra Pradesh, scaling up the annual budget allocation over 11 times from an average of ₹886 crore during 2009–14 to ₹10,134 crore for FY 2026–27, said SCoR General Manager Sandeep Mathur. Railway line works Replying to questions from TDP member Bhashyam Ramakrishna, the Union Minister said the annual pace of railway line construction doubled from 73 km during 2009–14 to 147 km between 2014 and 2026.

As of April 1, 2026, the administration sanctioned 42 projects spanning 4,768 km at a total estimated cost of ₹77,855 crore. Authorities had already commissioned 1,465 km of these lines, incurring an expenditure of ₹27,851 crore. Furthermore, the newly established South Coastal Railway (SCoR) Zone became fully operational on June 1, 2026, the Union Minister said. ROBs and RUBs Laying emphasis on safety and level crossing-free travel, the Railway Ministry had constructed 838 Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) across the State between 2014 and May 2026.

As of June 1, 2026, another 301 ROB/RUB works valued at ₹11,686 crore were under various stages of planning and execution, Mr. Vaishnaw said. The government allocated ₹1,940 crore specifically for these safety structures during the current fiscal year, utilising ₹674 crore up to June. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the Railways selected 74 stations for modernisation in Andhra Pradesh. Officials had already finished upgrade works at eight stations, including Eluru, Mangalagiri, and Tuni. Redevelopment projects involving expanded platforms, lifts, escalators, and improved circulating areas were progressing rapidly at major hubs such as Tirupati, Nellore, and Kurnool.

For passenger amenities, an amount of ₹3,134 crore had been allocated this financial year, of which ₹1,361 crore was spent by June. Addressing project execution timelines, Mr. Vaishnaw noted that land acquisition, forest clearances, utility shifting, and State government participation frequently caused delays. To counter these bottlenecks, the authorities conduct regular review meetings with the State officials, he said.