South Coastal Railway Zone to launch June 1 as AP gets ₹10,134 crore rail budget

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday, 28 April 2025, announced that the government will issue a Gazette notification formally creating the South Coastal Railway Zone, effective 1 June 2026. The move marks a significant step toward strengthening railway administration in Andhra Pradesh, which has simultaneously received a record rail budget allocation of ₹10,134 crore for the current cycle.

A New Zone for Andhra Pradesh

The South Coastal Railway Zone has been a long-pending demand from Andhra Pradesh, particularly following the bifurcation of the combined state in 2014. The Gazette notification, once issued, will give the zone formal administrative status from 1 June 2026. Vaishnaw made the announcement at a ceremony for the Google Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam, signalling the convergence of infrastructure and technology investment in the region.

Record Budget Allocation

Andhra Pradesh's railway budget allocation of ₹10,134 crore represents a dramatic increase compared to the ₹886 crore that was allocated in earlier years for the combined states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Projects worth approximately ₹1,06,000 crore are currently under way across the state, aimed at enhancing connectivity to ports, tourism destinations, and major cities, according to the minister.

Infrastructure Push on the Ground

Vaishnaw outlined the scale of ongoing infrastructure work in the state. A total of 832 flyovers and underpasses have been completed, with another 299 under construction. On the track front, 1,759 kilometres of new track have been laid, while an additional 3,300 kilometres remain under construction. The minister also noted that 74 stations are being reconstructed and fully redeveloped, and that Andhra Pradesh has achieved 100% electrification of its railway network, placing it among the leading states in railway modernisation. Currently, 16 Vande Bharat trains and 22 Amrit Bharat train services operate within the state, improving travel efficiency and passenger comfort.