Upgraded Mangalagiri Railway Station Will Spur Growth, Says Lokesh

VIJAYAWADA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually inaugurated the refurbished Mangalagiri Railway Station, which has been modernised under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a cost of ₹12.56 crore.

Union rural development minister of state Pemmasani Chandrasekhar joined the PM in unveiling the commemorative plaque at the railway station.

Speaking after the inauguration, AP Education and IT minister Nara Lokesh described the Indian Railways as an institution that binds the nation together. He underlined that the transformation of railways under the Prime Minister's leadership has been unprecedented. In this regard, he cited Vande Bharat trains, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, Kavach safety technology, complete railway electrification, modern freight corridors, upgraded stations, and hydrogen trains as evidence of what he termed a "railway revolution."

Lokesh requested railway authorities to ensure that more trains halt at the Mangalagiri station.

Highlighting Amaravati's development, the minister said the government is simultaneously strengthening air, road, and rail connectivity to the capital city of AP. He maintained that development of Amaravati, which had come to a standstill between 2019 and 2024, has gained a renewed momentum with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan reviving the capital works.

Lokesh declared that Andhra Pradesh is determined to emerge as South India's leading state. He credited the "double-engine government" at the centre and the state for securing major projects for AP, including the South Coast Railway Zone headquarters in Visakhapatnam, support for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, and funding for the Polavaram project.

Listing works undertaken in Mangalagiri over the past two years, the minister referred to the underground drainage project, a 100-bed hospital, community infrastructure, development of crematorium, improvement of temples, and modernisation of the railway station.

He pointed out that leading companies, including Royal Enfield, Google, ArcelorMittal, and AMCA project, have chosen Andhra Pradesh for investments. He expressed confidence that within three years, the state's unemployed youth would find opportunities at home instead of seeking jobs elsewhere.

Lokesh announced plans to attract industries and investments to Mangalagiri to generate local employment. In this context, he said close coordination between the area MP and MLA would help fast-track the constituency's development.