Naidu Seeks New Trains, Better Rail Infrastructure for North Andhra

Union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday called on Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi, pressing for the sanction of new train services connecting Srikakulam to Secunderabad and Tirupati, while also reviewing several long-pending railway infrastructure projects in the region.

The meeting assumes significance amid mounting demands from North Andhra constituencies for improved rail connectivity and the expeditious execution of stalled railway projects.

During the meeting, the two ministers held wide-ranging discussions on the progress of works under the South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone, headquartered at Visakhapatnam.

Naidu emphasised the need to commence full-fledged operations of the newly established railway zone at the earliest opportunity, asserting that doing so would prove transformative for the North Andhra region on multiple fronts — stimulating economic activity, enhancing accessibility, and generating employment opportunities for the local population.

The Civil Aviation Minister also raised the demand for scheduled halts at Mandasa, Pathapatnam, Harischandrapuram, and several other stations across Srikakulam district, drawing attention to the connectivity needs of smaller towns and semi-urban centres that have long remained underserved in railway planning.

He stressed that introducing stoppages at these stations would go a long way in addressing the travel aspirations of lakhs of daily commuters in the district.

Vaishnaw responded encouragingly to the proposals, particularly to the call for expediting the construction of railway overbridges, underbridges, and other critical infrastructure in the region.

His positive response has been widely interpreted as an indication that several stalled development projects in North Andhra may soon receive fresh impetus from the Centre.