Construction works ongoing at the Visakhapatnam city railway station. | Photo Credit: V RAJU The redevelopment of Visakhapatnam Railway Station, located in the headquarters of the South Coast Railway (SCoR), is progressing at a rapid pace as a top-priority infrastructure initiative following the formation of the new railway zone.Speaking to The Hindu, SCoR general manager Sandeep Mathur said that the Railway Board had sanctioned ₹300 crore specifically for the remodelling the coaching yard, marking a major milestone in the overall project.“We are taking utmost care in planning every aspect of the project, including architectural design, integration of facilities, infrastructure expansion and future requirements, with a long-term vision of creating a modern railway station capable of meeting the needs of the people of this region for the next 50 years and beyond,” Mr. Mathur said.While the project is targeted for completion by the end of 2028, every effort is being made to expedite works ahead of schedule without compromising quality, safety, or passenger convenience.“At present, construction works are advancing steadily for the 14th platform towards the Gnanapuram side,” Mr.
Mathur said.Operational bottlenecksThe station currently operates with eight platforms, resulting in severe congestion during peak operations. Incoming and outgoing trains often have to cross paths to access maintenance tracks, and they frequently hit signal bottlenecks.
This forces trains to halt on the outskirts for over 20 minutes while waiting for clearance. Changing engines is also time-consuming because of space constraints.
The ongoing station remodelling is expected to solve these delays. Expanding to 14 platforms will eliminate outside waiting times, and improve the movement of trains.
Dedicated spare engines would also be readied for instant swaps, ensuring faster departures and seamless operations.Scaled-Up InfrastructureThe multi-pronged project includes station infrastructure expansion estimated at ₹450 crore and spread over 60 acres with coaching yard upgrades. The initiative will increase the total number of platforms from 8 to 14 and platform lines from 11 to 16.
All new platforms will feature ballastless tracks, while existing Platforms 3, 5, and 6 are being widened. Furthermore, two new G+2 station buildings spanning over 200 metres will be linked by a massive 72-metre-wide and 205-metre-long Air Concourse.Work statusConstruction momentum is progressing across various project fronts.
Temporary parking zones on the west (4,000 sq. m) and east (5,860 sq. m) are operational, while additional spaces are under development. Structural progress includes first-floor staging for the western building and slab completions at the Passenger Reservation Building.
Excavation for platform walls from platforms 10 to 14 has been completed. Structural steel for the North Foot Overbridge has also arrived.Passenger facilitiesTo streamline intermodal transit, the circulating area features dedicated parking and drop-off zones capable of handling 228 cars, 2,006 two-wheelers, 135 auto-rickshaws, and space for app-based aggregator vehicles.
Specialised access for passengers with disabilities are also being incorporated into the development plan. Published - November 04, 2026 08:22 pm IST