Telangana has been allotted Rs. 5,337 crore in the latest budget, announced Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. It is six times more than the average annual allotment of Rs. 886 crore made by the UPA government (2009-2014). Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the statement at a press conference held at the headquarters of the Railways in Delhi on Tuesday, wherein he discussed how the state had progressed on railway infrastructure since 2014.

Key Developments in Telangana Railways Since 2014

  • 753 km of New Railway Tracks: Completed, equivalent to almost the length of the UAE's entire railway network.
  • 100% Railway Electrification: Completed in the state of Telangana
  • Infrastructure Development
    • ​453 flyovers and under bridges constructed
    • Installation of 62 lifts and 17 escalators
    • Wi-Fi facilities available in 48 railway stations

Ongoing and Future Projects

  • 22 New Railway Lines: 2,529 km. Investment: Rs. 39,300 crore.
  • Amrit Stations Development: 40 stations are to be upgraded by spending Rs. 1,992 crore
  • Vande Bharat Trains: Currently operating in 5 trains across 7 districts in Telangana.
  • Secunderabad & Hyderabad Station Upgradations:
    • ​Secunderabad: Currently under development. The Ministry will spend Rs. 715 crore.
    • Hyderabad: Currently undertaking infrastructure upgrade of Rs. 327 crores

Scientific Approach towards new project approval

Minister Vaishnaw said, "New projects for railways were sanctioned based on scientific assessment from today".

  • Feasibility Surveys & DPRs: Detailed Project Reports are made only after detailed surveys.
  • Inter-Ministerial Coordination: Projects with prospective are examined by Finance Ministry, NITI Aayog and the Commerce Ministry, before approval from the Cabinet.
  • Projects worth Rs. 40,000 Crore Approved Since July: Emphasizing that these efforts remain on continuously and go beyond the annual budgetary exercises.

Track Maintenance & Safety Measures

  • Track Maintenance Schedules: Rail stops are adjusted to ensure time for at least 3 hours for maintenance which is critical for safety.
  • Kavach Safety System:
    • ​To be installed on 1,326 km of Telangana's railway network.
    • 1,011 km already covered, with national goal to complete installation by 2030.

Kazipet Railway Unit Development

The minister also confirmed the Kazipet Railway Unit will function like a multi-manufacturing unit and production is expected to begin shortly.