South Central Railway Receives Historic Budget Allocation
The South Central Railway (SCR) has been allocated a record ₹14,754 crore in this year’s railway budget. This marks an increase from last year’s ₹14,232 crore. Of the total, Telangana will receive ₹5,337 crore, while Andhra Pradesh has been allocated ₹9,417 crore. Telangana’s funds rose slightly by ₹1 crore compared to last year, and Andhra Pradesh saw a larger increase of ₹266 crore.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during a virtual press conference from New Delhi, highlighted the significant growth in railway investments for both states. The total investment in Telangana now stands at ₹41,677 crore, while Andhra Pradesh has seen a surge to ₹84,559 crore. This marks a stark contrast to the period of united Andhra Pradesh, when the average railway budget allocation between 2009 and 2014 was only ₹886 crore annually.
The South Central Railway network, which serves both states, has achieved full electrification and is a leader in adopting advanced safety technologies. A total of 1,465 kilometers of railway track has been equipped with ‘Kavach,’ an automatic train protection system. Trials for its upgraded version are currently underway. The Railway Minister announced plans to roll out ‘Kavach’ across the entire Indian rail network within the next six years.
Telangana has also seen a boost in rail connectivity with the operation of five ‘Vande Bharat’ trains, linking seven districts with nine stops. Furthermore, 40 railway stations across the SCR network are undergoing redevelopment. To improve the national rail infrastructure, the government has approved the introduction of 50 Namo Bharat trains, 200 Vande Bharat trains, and 100 Amrit Bharat trains in the near future.
In addition to these developments, approximately 7,000 kilometers of old tracks will be replaced to support faster train speeds. Upgraded tracks on key routes will allow trains to run at speeds of up to 160 kmph, while certain routes will support speeds of 130 kmph. The entire network is being prepared for trains running at a minimum speed of 100 kmph.
SCR General Manager Arun Kumar Jain and other senior officials were present during the announcement, emphasizing the importance of these investments in strengthening the railway network in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
