KTR urges minister to form Kazipet Railway Division
Hyderabad, April 1 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao has written a letter to Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging the immediate formation of a new Railway Division with headquarters at Kazipet in Telangana.
Rama Rao highlighted that the ongoing restructuring within the South Central Railway and operationalisation of the South Coast Railway have placed an excessive operational burden on the Secunderabad Division.
As per the latest restructuring data, the Secunderabad Division currently spans 2,755 track kilometres, which is expected to expand to approximately 3,150 track kilometres with the addition of the Wadi–Raichur and Vishnupuram–Bibinagar double line sections. This significantly exceeds the optimal administrative range observed across Indian Railways divisions.
KTR mentioned that divisions such as Vijayawada and Guntakal operate around 2,200 track kilometres, while Guntur Division remains under 900 kilometres. This stark imbalance makes Secunderabad Division an outlier in terms of size, complexity, and traffic density, he wrote.
The BRS leader emphasised that the creation of a Kazipet Division is both logical and necessary. The proposed division would include key railway sections such as Kazipet–Balharshah, Peddapalli–Nizamabad, Kazipet–Yerrupalem, Dornakal–Manuguru & Sathupalli, Motumari–Vishnupuram, and Kazipet–Wangapalli. These sections, together, form a coherent, high-density railway network of approximately 1,500–2,000 track kilometres, aligning well with established divisional norms.
He further requested reconsideration of certain redistribution proposals. Specifically, he urged that the transfer of the Peddapalli–Nizamabad section from the Hyderabad Division to the proposed Kazipet Division be withdrawn and reassigned to the latter, given its geographical and operational continuity. Similarly, the proposal to shift the Latur Road–Parli Vaijnath section to the Nanded Division should be revisited to ensure operational efficiency.
Highlighting Kazipet’s strategic advantage, KTR noted that it is situated at the intersection of major trunk routes and has witnessed significant infrastructure augmentation. This includes completing the triple lines towards Balharshah and Vijayawada, as well as the sanctioned quadruple line between Secunderabad and Kazipet, transforming the region into a high-capacity rail corridor.
He also pointed out that the establishment of a railway manufacturing unit at Kazipet, along with the development of a Rolling Overhaul (ROH) shed and locomotive maintenance facilities at Mahabubabad, further enhances the region’s strategic importance within the national railway network.
The proposed Kazipet Division is expected to handle freight-intensive routes, including coal from the Singareni region, cement, fertilisers, food grains, and power sector inputs.
Given the high revenue potential and loading density in these routes, KTR stressed the need for focused administrative oversight.
KTR further observed that the current concentration of high-density routes within the Secunderabad Division has resulted in administrative overstretch, delayed decision-making, and challenges in maintenance and safety supervision.
The formation of a Kazipet Division would decentralise operations, improve efficiency, and enable more responsive management, he added.
Rama Rao highlighted that the ongoing restructuring within the South Central Railway and operationalisation of the South Coast Railway have placed an excessive operational burden on the Secunderabad Division.
As per the latest restructuring data, the Secunderabad Division currently spans 2,755 track kilometres, which is expected to expand to approximately 3,150 track kilometres with the addition of the Wadi–Raichur and Vishnupuram–Bibinagar double line sections. This significantly exceeds the optimal administrative range observed across Indian Railways divisions.
KTR mentioned that divisions such as Vijayawada and Guntakal operate around 2,200 track kilometres, while Guntur Division remains under 900 kilometres. This stark imbalance makes Secunderabad Division an outlier in terms of size, complexity, and traffic density, he wrote.
The BRS leader emphasised that the creation of a Kazipet Division is both logical and necessary. The proposed division would include key railway sections such as Kazipet–Balharshah, Peddapalli–Nizamabad, Kazipet–Yerrupalem, Dornakal–Manuguru & Sathupalli, Motumari–Vishnupuram, and Kazipet–Wangapalli. These sections, together, form a coherent, high-density railway network of approximately 1,500–2,000 track kilometres, aligning well with established divisional norms.
He further requested reconsideration of certain redistribution proposals. Specifically, he urged that the transfer of the Peddapalli–Nizamabad section from the Hyderabad Division to the proposed Kazipet Division be withdrawn and reassigned to the latter, given its geographical and operational continuity. Similarly, the proposal to shift the Latur Road–Parli Vaijnath section to the Nanded Division should be revisited to ensure operational efficiency.
Highlighting Kazipet’s strategic advantage, KTR noted that it is situated at the intersection of major trunk routes and has witnessed significant infrastructure augmentation. This includes completing the triple lines towards Balharshah and Vijayawada, as well as the sanctioned quadruple line between Secunderabad and Kazipet, transforming the region into a high-capacity rail corridor.
He also pointed out that the establishment of a railway manufacturing unit at Kazipet, along with the development of a Rolling Overhaul (ROH) shed and locomotive maintenance facilities at Mahabubabad, further enhances the region’s strategic importance within the national railway network.
The proposed Kazipet Division is expected to handle freight-intensive routes, including coal from the Singareni region, cement, fertilisers, food grains, and power sector inputs.
Given the high revenue potential and loading density in these routes, KTR stressed the need for focused administrative oversight.
KTR further observed that the current concentration of high-density routes within the Secunderabad Division has resulted in administrative overstretch, delayed decision-making, and challenges in maintenance and safety supervision.
The formation of a Kazipet Division would decentralise operations, improve efficiency, and enable more responsive management, he added.