VISAKHAPATNAM — Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, has announced that the Gazette Notification for the creation of the South Coastal Railway (SCoR) Zone will be issued with an effective date of June 1, 2026. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Google Cloud India AI Hub, the Minister detailed a massive infrastructure overhaul aimed at transforming Andhra Pradesh into a global logistics hub.
South Coastal Railway & Record Budgetary Support
The establishment of the SCoR zone marks a pivotal shift in the railway administration of the region.
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Budgetary Surge: Andhra Pradesh has received a record allocation of ₹10,134 crore, a massive jump from the average of ₹886 crore seen in previous decades.
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Project Pipeline: Total railway projects currently underway in the state are valued at approximately ₹1,06,000 crore.
The “High-Speed Diamond” Network
One of the most significant announcements was the proposal for a high-speed rail network connecting major southern cities, drastically reducing travel times:
| Route | Projected Travel Time |
| Amaravati to Hyderabad | ~70 minutes |
| Pune to Mumbai | ~48 minutes |
| Chennai to Bengaluru | ~73 minutes |
| Amaravati to Chennai | ~112 minutes |
| Hyderabad to Pune | ~1 hour 55 minutes |
| Hyderabad to Bengaluru | ~2 hours 8 minutes |
Infrastructure & Modernization Milestones
The Minister highlighted several key achievements that place Andhra Pradesh at the forefront of India’s railway modernization:
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100% Electrification: The entire railway network in Andhra Pradesh is now fully electrified.
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Station Redevelopment: 74 railway stations across the state are undergoing complete reconstruction and modernization.
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Capacity Expansion: The East Coast Railway Corridor is being upgraded to a four-line network, effectively doubling capacity to accommodate up to 500 new trains.
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Connectivity Progress: * 1,759 km of track completed; 3,300 km currently under construction.
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832 flyovers and underpasses completed; 299 more in progress.
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Enhanced Passenger and Cargo Services
The state is currently served by 16 Vande Bharat and 22 Amrit Bharat train services, prioritizing travel efficiency and passenger comfort. Furthermore, the Minister emphasized the strengthening of cargo and container services to link ports and industrial centers, boosting the regional economy.
“The Union Government is committed to delivering complete justice to the Southern States. This ‘High-Speed Diamond’ will enhance mobility, economic integration, and regional growth across Southern India.” — Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw
The Minister concluded by reaffirming that these initiatives are part of a broader vision to ensure balanced development and welfare across the region, dismissing political criticism as a distraction from the state’s rapid infrastructure growth.
