Hyderabad: The Central government has announced plans for a semi-high-speed rail corridor linking Visakhapatnam to Shamshabad, reducing the travel time between these cities from the current 12 hours to just 4.5 hours. This development marks a significant boost in connectivity for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
At present, the Vande Bharat Express is the fastest train option for this route, taking approximately 8.5 hours. However, the new corridor, designed to support speeds of up to 220 km/h, will provide a more efficient travel experience for passengers, especially those connecting to Shamshabad Airport.
The proposed alignment will include stops at key locations such as Suryapet and Vijayawada, and future plans may expand the route to Kurnool, increasing regional connectivity. Additionally, the new route will extend rail access to towns in Telangana that currently lack connectivity, including Narkatpalli, Nakirekal, and Kodada.
Preliminary engineering and traffic studies are close to completion, with reports expected to be submitted to the Railway Board by November. The rail corridor will feature eight stations, further enhancing accessibility for local communities and reducing travel times significantly across the region.
