AP Gets Top Priority in Railway Infrastructure: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said the Centre is according top priority to the development of railway infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh.

Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha from member Bhashyam Ramakrishna, the minister said the state's average annual railway allocation had increased from Rs.`886 crore during 2009-14 to `10,134 crore in the 2026-27 financial year.

He said the pace of railway line construction had also doubled, rising from an average of 73km a year during 2009-14 to 147km annually during 2014-26.

As on April 1, 2026, the Centre had sanctioned 42 railway projects in AP, comprising 12 new lines and 30 doubling projects, covering a total length of 4,768km at an estimated cost of `77,855 crore. Of these, 1,465km had been commissioned up to March 2026, with an expenditure of `27,851 crore.

Vaishnaw said the Centre was giving priority to improving railway safety by eliminating level crossings. He stated that 838 ROBs and RUBs had been constructed in AP between 2014 and May 2026.

As on June 1, 2026, he said, 301 sanctioned ROB and RUB projects worth `11,686 crore were at various stages of planning and execution. For the current financial year, `1,940 crore had been allocated for ROB and RUB works in the railway zones covering Andhra Pradesh, of which `674 crore had been spent up to June 2026.

The minister also affirmed that the South Coast Railway Zone had become fully operational from June 1, 2026.

Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 74 railway stations in AP had been selected for redevelopment. Modernisation works had been completed at Cumbum, Eluru, Kakinada Town Junction, Mangalagiri, Nidadavolu Junction, Rayanapadu, Sullurpeta and Tuni.

Redevelopment works, including improvement of platforms, circulating areas, foot overbridges, lifts and escalators, were progressing at major stations such as Tirupati, Nellore, Kurnool City, Kuppam and Hindupur.

For passenger amenities, `3,134 crore had been allocated to the railway zones serving Andhra Pradesh during the current financial year, of which `1,361 crore had been spent up to June 2026.