Minister of Industries and Commerce T.G. Bharath has requested Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for train connectivity between Kurnool and Vijayawada.

Mr. Bharath met with the Union Minister in Delhi and requested the introduction of train services running once or twice a week between Kurnool and Mumbai, as well as daily services between Kurnool and Vijayawada. Recalling that Kurnool served as the capital when the state of Andhra was first formed, he urged the Union Minister to take steps toward railway development in this region.

Mr. Bharath informed the Union Minister about the numerous industries being established at the Orvakal Industrial Park and stated that Orvakal is poised to become a major industrial hub in the future. He emphasized the need for rail connectivity linking this region to major cities across the country.

Mr. Bharath also requested Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw to extend cooperation for the rapid development of industrial corridors in Andhra Pradesh. He urged the implementation of measures to develop the Orvakal node under the Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor and the Krishnapatnam node under the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor, which are part of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation nodes.

The Minister discussed the development of necessary infrastructure for rail connectivity to these nodes with the Union Minister and submitted a formal representation. He also requested for development of a new railway line connecting Dupadu railway station to Bethamcherla via Orvakal, as well as a 53-kilometer railway siding serving the Orvakal industrial node. He also proposed the development of a 12-kilometer railway siding connecting the Krishnapatnam industrial node to the Krishnapatnam railway station via the Obulavaripalli-Krishnapatnam section.

Published - July 17, 2026 08:44 pm IST