Visakhapatnam: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday 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.
Speaking after the ground-breaking ceremony of a Google Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam, the minister said the move would strengthen railway administration in Andhra Pradesh.
Highlighting investments, Vaishnaw said the state has received a record railway allocation of ₹10,134 crore, a sharp rise from ₹886 crore allocated earlier to the undivided Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region. He added that projects worth ₹1.06 lakh crore are currently underway to improve connectivity to ports, tourism hubs and major cities.
The minister said 74 railway stations in the state are being redeveloped, while infrastructure works include 832 flyovers and underpasses completed and 299 more under construction. He added that 1,759 km of railway track has been completed, with another 3,300 km under progress.
In a major milestone, Andhra Pradesh has achieved 100% electrification of its railway network, placing it among the leading regions in rail modernisation, he said.
On passenger services, Vaishnaw noted that the state is currently served by 16 Vande Bharat trains and 22 Amrit Bharat services, enhancing travel speed and comfort.
He also announced that the East Coast railway corridor is being upgraded into a four-line network, which is expected to significantly boost capacity and allow operation of up to 500 additional trains, besides strengthening cargo and container connectivity.
Outlining future plans, the minister spoke about a proposed high-speed rail network across southern corridors, linking key cities with reduced travel times. He described it as a “High-Speed Diamond” aimed at improving mobility and economic integration.
Vaishnaw said the initiatives reflect the Centre’s commitment to transforming Andhra Pradesh into a major railway and logistics hub, while ensuring balanced infrastructure growth across southern states.
