High-speed rail corridors: Union Railway Budget allocates ₹10,134 Cr for Andhra, ₹5,454 Cr for Telangana
Union Railway Budget allocates ₹15,588 Cr for Andhra, Telangana to roll out high-speed rail corridors, modernise infra
By - Newsmeter Network
Union Railway Budget allocates ₹ 15588 Cr for Andhra, Telangana to roll out high-speed rail corridors, modernise infra
Vijayawada/Hyderabad: The Union Railway Budget has announced record allocations for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, underscoring the Centre’s push to strengthen connectivity, modernise networks, and roll out high-speed rail corridors in the southern region.
Record Allocation for Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh has been allotted Rs 10,134 crore for railway projects in 2026–27, the highest ever for the State. This represents an increase of Rs 717 crore over last year’s allocation of Rs 9,417 crore, against the overall Union Railway Budget outlay of Rs 2,78,030 crore.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Andhra Pradesh’s railway budget has grown more than 11 times compared to the average annual allocation of ₹886 crore during 2009–14, when the State was undivided.
He noted that railway infrastructure projects worth Rs 92,649 crore are currently under execution in Andhra Pradesh and that the State has achieved 100% railway electrification, marking a major milestone in sustainable transport.
High-speed rail corridors through AP
The Railway Minister announced that two high-speed rail corridors—Hyderabad–Bengaluru and Hyderabad–Chennai—will pass through Andhra Pradesh. Though not formally listed, the Chennai–Bengaluru corridor will also cover parts of the State.
These bullet train corridors, designed for speeds of up to 350 kmph, are proposed on elevated alignments to avoid land division and disruption to public movement. Travel time is expected to reduce to about two hours between Hyderabad and Bengaluru, and around 2 hours and 55 minutes between Hyderabad and Chennai.
Vaishnaw said the corridors would serve as economic growth engines, linking major IT and industrial hubs.
‘South High-Speed Triangle’ Vision
After the Ahmedabad–Mumbai bullet train project, the NDA government led by Narendra Modi is expanding high-speed rail networks nationwide. Of the seven new corridors taken up initially, five are in South India.
In the southern region, the Chennai–Bengaluru–Hyderabad high-speed network will form a “South High-Speed Triangle (or diamond)”, which the Minister described as a game-changer for Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring States.
South Coast Railway Zone gains momentum
Vaishnaw said the establishment of the South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone, headquartered in Visakhapatnam, is being fast-tracked with support from the Andhra Pradesh government. While a new railway zone typically takes three to four years to become fully functional, work on SCoR is already underway.
To strengthen operations, 959 employees have been transferred from South Central Railway, along with 22 personnel temporarily from Vijayawada, Guntakal, and Guntur divisions.
Network expansion and port connectivity in AP
Another key announcement was the four-laning of the Kolkata–Chennai railway route, which passes through Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Officials said this would significantly boost logistics efficiency in the State.
Rail connectivity to upcoming ports—Ramayapatnam, Machilipatnam, and Kakinada Gateway—is progressing steadily. In addition, station redevelopment is gaining pace: of the 73 stations being rebuilt in Andhra Pradesh, 21 fall under the Vijayawada Division, while 10 stations are in the Visakhapatnam (Waltair) region and are scheduled for completion within the current calendar year.
Telangana gets Rs 5,454 crore allocation
Telangana has been allotted a record Rs 5,454 crore for railway projects in the 2026–27 Budget, nearly a six-fold increase over the average annual outlay during 2009–14 for the undivided Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking at a virtual press conference from New Delhi, Ashwini Vaishnaw said the sharp rise reflects the Centre’s sustained focus on strengthening rail infrastructure and connectivity in the State.
Railway projects worth Rs 47,984 crore are currently under various stages of execution in Telangana. The Minister also announced that Telangana’s railway network has now achieved 100% electrification, improving operational efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
Hyderabad as High-Speed Rail Hub
A major highlight for Telangana is the sanctioning of seven high-speed rail corridors across the country, three of which will originate or terminate in Hyderabad. These include proposed links to Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune.
According to the Railway Minister, travel time is expected to come down to about two hours between Hyderabad and Bengaluru, around 2 hours 55 minutes between Hyderabad and Chennai, and approximately 1 hour 55 minutes between Hyderabad and Pune.
“These corridors will not only enhance regional connectivity but also act as economic growth corridors supporting education, healthcare, business, and industry,” Vaishnaw said.
Big push for rail infrastructure in Telugu States
Officials said the 2026–27 Railway Budget underscores continued and large-scale investment in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, positioning both States as key beneficiaries of India’s next phase of railway expansion, modernisation, and high-speed connectivity.
