New Delhi, 9 December (H.S.): Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna on Tuesday flagged off the newly introduced Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express through video conferencing from Rail Bhavan, marking a major step toward enhancing pilgrimage connectivity across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.The weekly train will offer the first direct rail link from the coastal districts of South Andhra Pradesh to Shirdi, one of India’s most revered pilgrimage destinations.

Describing it as a “historic day for devotees across four states,” Somanna said Indian Railways is not merely a mode of transport but a national lifeline that unites the country’s diverse regions and cultures.He added that directly connecting two iconic pilgrimage centers—Tirupati and Shirdi—will ensure safe, comfortable, and seamless inter-state travel for lakhs of passengers.

The train, with a travel duration of around 30 hours, will halt at 31 major stations including Nellore, Guntur, Secunderabad, Bidar, and Manmad, while also linking important religious centers such as Parli Vaijnath.Somanna highlighted that the new service would significantly promote pilgrimage tourism, stimulate local economies, and strengthen socio-economic growth along the route.

The train will particularly benefit passengers from Maharashtra, North Karnataka, and the Secunderabad region.Reviewing railway development in Andhra Pradesh, the minister noted a remarkable surge in infrastructure investment since 2014.

The combined railway budget allocation for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which averaged ₹886 crore between 2009 and 2014, has risen sharply to ₹9,417 crore in 2025–26. Currently, projects worth over ₹93,000 crore are underway across the state.He added that post-2014, the region has witnessed the construction of 1,580 kilometers of new railway lines with 100 percent electrification.

Under the “Amrit Station” redevelopment initiative, 73 stations are being modernized with an investment of ₹3,125 crore. The network has also added 800 flyovers and bridges, 110 lifts, 40 escalators, 16 Vande Bharat trains (eight pairs), and six Amrit Bharat trains (three pairs).

Touching upon the ongoing projects in Tirupati, Somanna revealed that the redevelopment of Tirupati Amrit Station is progressing at a cost of ₹312 crore. Key infrastructure works include the Tirupati–Pakala–Katpadi doubling (105 km – ₹1,215 crore), Gudur–Renigunta third line (83 km – ₹875 crore), and Nadikudi–Srikalahasti new line (310 km – ₹5,900 crore).

Additionally, work is underway on the Vijayawada–Gudur third line (287 km – ₹6,235 crore) and the Yerrapedu–Pudi bypass line (25 km – ₹490 crore).The ceremony was also attended by Andhra Pradesh Minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy as the chief guest, along with Tirupati MP Dr. Madila Gurumoorthy, MLC B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, MLA A. Srinivasulu, and TTD Board Member Bhanu Prakash Reddy, among other dignitaries.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar