Railways approves ₹299 crore Vizag coaching yard upgrade for 80,000 daily passengers
Synopsis
Indian Railways is spending ₹299 crore to overhaul the Visakhapatnam Coaching Yard — adding six platforms, Electronic Interlocking, and a new eastern entrance — to fix a yard layout that currently forces 113 daily trains into surface crossings and detention delays. A separate ₹220 crore traction upgrade on the Wadi-Raichur corridor adds to a combined ₹519 crore push for rail capacity in southern India.
Key Takeaways
Indian Railways approved a ₹299 crore remodelling of the Visakhapatnam Coaching Yard on 30 July .
The project adds six new lines and platforms , installs Electronic Interlocking , and widens the existing six platforms .
Visakhapatnam station handles nearly 80,000 passengers and 113 trains daily — surface crossings in the current yard cause chronic detention delays.
A new eastern entrance and relocation of the Passenger Reservation System are also part of the scope.
A separate ₹220 crore traction upgrade from 1×25 kV to 2×25 kV has been sanctioned for the 102 km Wadi-Raichur section on the Mumbai-Chennai HDN corridor.
Combined outlay across both projects: ₹519 crore .
Indian Railways has approved a ₹299 crore remodelling project for the Visakhapatnam Coaching Yard under the South Coast Railway, aimed at expanding platform capacity, cutting train detention times, and modernising passenger amenities at one of the country's busiest rail terminals. The Railway Ministry announced the sanction on 30 July.
What the Project Covers
The remodelling scope includes construction of six additional lines and platforms, installation of Electronic Interlocking (EI), and widening of the existing six platforms. The project also provides for a new entrance on the eastern side of the station and relocation of the Passenger Reservation System (PRS), the Railway Ministry statement said.
Why Visakhapatnam Needs the Upgrade
Visakhapatnam Railway Station currently handles nearly 80,000 passengers daily and an average of 113 trains every day. The existing yard layout forces terminating and through trains to negotiate surface crossings, causing detention at approach signals, reduced platform availability, and operational bottlenecks. The remodelled yard will minimise these surface crossings, reduce detention time, improve platform occupancy, and enable the station to accommodate additional train services.
Second Project: Wadi-Raichur Traction Upgrade
Separately, Indian Railways has also cleared a ₹220 crore project to upgrade the Electric Traction System from 1×25 kV to 2×25 kV on the Wadi-Raichur section of the South Central Railway. The project spans a 102 Route Kilometre double-line section and is part of the railway network's broader push to modernise traction infrastructure on high-density corridors.
The Wadi-Raichur section forms part of the High Density Network (HDN) Route-7, the strategic corridor linking Mumbai-Pune-Wadi-Raichur-Guntakal-Kadapa-Renigunta-Chennai. The upgraded 2×25 kV system will strengthen the section's ability to handle rising passenger and freight volumes while supporting reliable train operations, according to the official statement.
Broader Significance
Together, the two projects represent a combined outlay of ₹519 crore directed at rail infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Notably, both fall on corridors that carry significant freight and passenger loads between India's eastern and western coasts. The Vizag yard upgrade, in particular, addresses a long-standing operational constraint at a terminal whose passenger volumes have consistently outpaced its designed capacity. With India's rail network targeting higher average speeds and fewer delays, investments in yard remodelling and traction upgrades are seen as foundational to meeting those goals.
Point of View
000 passengers a day on infrastructure designed for far lower volumes is a systemic risk, not just an inconvenience. The inclusion of Electronic Interlocking is the right call; it removes human error from a congested crossing environment. What the announcement does not address is a timeline or a commissioning date, which matters because large yard remodelling projects in India have a history of cost and schedule overruns. The Wadi-Raichur traction upgrade is less visible but arguably more consequential for freight throughput on the Mumbai-Chennai corridor — the real test will be whether the upgraded system translates into measurable improvements in average section speed.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ₹299 crore Visakhapatnam Coaching Yard project?
It is a Railway Ministry-approved remodelling of the Visakhapatnam Coaching Yard under South Coast Railway, sanctioned at ₹299 crore. The project adds six new lines and platforms, installs Electronic Interlocking, widens existing platforms, and creates a new eastern entrance to reduce congestion and train detention at the station.
Why is the Visakhapatnam station upgrade necessary?
The station handles nearly 80,000 passengers and 113 trains daily, but its current yard layout forces trains to negotiate surface crossings, causing detention at approach signals and reducing platform availability. The remodelling will minimise these crossings and allow the terminal to handle additional trains more efficiently.
What is the Wadi-Raichur traction upgrade and why does it matter?
It is a ₹220 crore project to upgrade the electric traction system from 1×25 kV to 2×25 kV on the 102-km Wadi-Raichur double-line section of South Central Railway. The section is part of High Density Network Route-7 linking Mumbai to Chennai, and the upgrade will improve its capacity to handle heavier passenger and freight traffic.
Which railway zones are covered by these two projects?
The Visakhapatnam Coaching Yard project falls under South Coast Railway in Andhra Pradesh, while the Wadi-Raichur traction upgrade is under South Central Railway, covering a corridor that connects Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh on the Mumbai-Chennai route.
What is the combined investment in these two railway projects?
The two projects together represent a combined outlay of ₹519 crore — ₹299 crore for the Visakhapatnam yard remodelling and ₹220 crore for the Wadi-Raichur electric traction upgrade.
