Centre says railway infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh gets 11-fold budget increase

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the Central Government has prioritised railway infrastructure development in Andhra Pradesh. The annual budget allocation has been scaled up over 11 times, from an average of ₹886 crore during 2009–14 to ₹10,134 crore for the financial year 2026–27, said Sandeep Mathur, General Manager of the South Coastal Railway (SCoR).

Replying to questions from Telugu Desam Party member Bhashyam Ramakrishna, the 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 has sanctioned 42 projects spanning 4,768 km at a total estimated cost of ₹77,855 crore. Of these, 1,465 km have been commissioned, with an expenditure of ₹27,851 crore incurred so far. The newly established South Coastal Railway Zone became fully operational on June 1, 2026, Vaishnaw added.

Emphasising safety and level crossing-free travel, the Railway Ministry has 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 are under various stages of planning and execution. The government allocated ₹1,940 crore specifically for these safety structures during the current fiscal year, of which ₹674 crore has been utilised up to June.

Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the Railways have selected 74 stations for modernisation in Andhra Pradesh. Upgrade works have been completed at eight stations, including Eluru, Mangalagiri, and Tuni. Redevelopment projects involving expanded platforms, lifts, escalators, and improved circulating areas are progressing at major hubs such as Tirupati, Nellore, and Kurnool. For passenger amenities, an amount of ₹3,134 crore has been allocated this financial year, with ₹1,361 crore spent by June.

Addressing project execution timelines, Vaishnaw noted that land acquisition, forest clearances, utility shifting, and State government participation frequently cause delays. To counter these bottlenecks, authorities conduct regular review meetings with State officials, he said.