Railways plans Vande Bharat train depot in Visakhapatnam

The Railways is set to establish a dedicated Vande Bharat train depot in Visakhapatnam, following approval from the state government to provide land in Marripalem for the project. The depot is expected to be developed at Rs 300 crore.

Currently, four Vande Bharat trains operate from Visakhapatnam to various destinations. Two trains run between Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad, one to Durg, and another to Bhubaneswar. The train departing Secunderabad at 3 pm reaches Visakhapatnam by 11 pm, with its maintenance currently handled at the Coach Maintenance Depot in the city. The remaining trains are maintained at depots in their respective regions.

“Setting up a dedicated depot will streamline maintenance and operations for Vande Bharat trains in the region,” said an official. “This is a major step forward for Visakhapatnam as a transport hub and will improve connectivity for passengers across the state,” the official added.

Local business leaders also welcomed the move. “The depot will not only enhance rail services but also boost economic activity in the city,” said a senior industry representative. “This initiative shows the government’s commitment to modernising infrastructure and strengthening Visakhapatnam’s position as a key hub in Andhra Pradesh,” another stakeholder commented.

The project comes shortly after the AP-Google agreement to set up the largest Google data center in the city, highlighting Visakhapatnam’s growing strategic importance. Officials note that, following the coalition government’s return to power, Visakhapatnam is expected to emerge as a major hub, second only to Amaravati.