The Andhra Pradesh government plans to enhance connectivity and traffic facilities in the V-G-T area by establishing Semi High-Speed Circular Suburban Rail Services. The proposed rail service will connect important locations in the area, including Vijayawada, Namburu, Amaravati, Guntur, Tenali, and Vijayawada.
The Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (APMRC) has appointed the Urban Mass Transit Company Limited (UMTC) to conduct a feasibility study and prepare a detailed project report for the suburban rail service in the V-G-T area.
Vijayawada and Guntur are major cities located within the Amaravati Metropolitan Regional Development Area (AMRDA), as well as several surrounding growth centers, including Krishna Canal, Duggirala, Tenali, Vejendla, Mangalagiri, Sathenapalli, Nuzividu, Gudivada, and Gannavaram.
The current rail system in the area is insufficient, with passenger and express trains taking over an hour to travel just 32.17 km from Guntur to Vijayawada. The Indian Railways’ Howrah-Chennai East Coast Corridor is already fully utilized, and branch lines have few trains and are slow in mixed traffic movement. As a result, faster passenger trains cannot be operated for the regional commuters in the area. The development of a Semi High-Speed Suburban Rail System will provide faster commuting for the development of this regional hub.
The Government of India’s Ministry of Railways has given in-principle approval to the project, which is planned to be taken up under a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Andhra Pradesh, following the Suburban Rail Policy of 2017. A detailed project report is currently under preparation, and further details will be provided once it is finalized.
