VISAKHAPATNAM: Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, announced that the groundbreaking ceremony, or Bhoomipooja, for the new South Coast Railway Zone, headquartered in Visakhapatnam, will take place soon.

The ceremony is likely to occur between Dussehra and Diwali, marking a significant step in enhancing the region’s railway infrastructure.

Speaking after the inauguration of the new Vande Bharat Express between Visakhapatnam and Durg, Naidu emphasized the train’s role in boosting the development of North Andhra. This Vande Bharat service is among six trains recently flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Gujarat, and it is the fourth Vande Bharat to operate from Visakhapatnam. Currently, the city connects to Secunderabad with two trains and to Bhubaneswar with one.

With the Visakhapatnam-Secunderabad Vande Bharat consistently running at full occupancy, Naidu highlighted the importance of improved rail connectivity, stating that the decentralization of the Railway administration under PM Modi is facilitating enhanced growth in various sectors, including tourism, education, and business. “Railways are the oxygen of development,” he added.

In addition, the minister praised the Indian Railways for being the world’s largest employer with 14 lakh employees. He noted that the Civil Aviation sector, under his ministry, is now competing with the railways, especially as both sectors are focusing on increasing capacity, fleet size, and passenger facilities.

Also present at the inauguration were Waltair Divisional Manager Saurabh Prasad, AP TDP President Palla Srinivas, and local MLAs Ganababu and Vishnukumar Raju, along with district collector Harendira Prasad.

The new Vande Bharat train (20829/30) will operate six days a week, except Thursdays, with maintenance taking place at Durg station. The train, comprising 16 bogies, will depart from Durg at 5:45 am and arrive in Visakhapatnam at 1:45 pm. The return trip will start from Visakhapatnam at 2:50 pm, reaching Durg at 10:50 pm, with commercial stops at Vizianagaram, Rayagada, Kesinga, Titlagarh, Kantabanji, Khariar Road, Mahasamund, Raipur, and Durg.

This expansion of services underscores the government’s commitment to improving rail connectivity across Andhra Pradesh and beyond, setting the stage for further economic and infrastructural growth.

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