HYDERABAD, JAN 12   :   Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Development of North East Region, G Kishan Reddy, inaugurated the extension of three train services in the Andhra Pradesh region on Friday at Guntur Railway Station.

The ceremony was graced by Mayor K Manohar Naidu, Municipal Corporation, Guntur, along with M Ramakrishnan, Divisional Railway Manager, Guntur, and other railway officials.

The extended train services include Train No. 22701/22702 Visakhapatnam-Guntur-Viakhapatnam Uday Express, Train No. 17225/17226 Narsapur-Hubballi-Narsapur Amravati Express, and Train No. 07284/07285 Nandyal-Renigunta-Nandyal Special Train.

Simultaneous flagging-off events were conducted at Renigunta and Narsapur Railway stations in the presence of dignitaries and respective Divisional Railway officials.

During the ceremony, Kishan Reddy highlighted the benefits of the extended train services for the people of Andhra Pradesh.

He mentioned that the extension of Uday Express provides direct connectivity between Guntur and Visakhapatnam, featuring both AC and non-AC coaches with convenient journey timings.

Additionally, he emphasised that the Narsapur-Huballi Express offers enhanced travel options from coastal Andhra Pradesh to Karnataka, while the Nandyal-Renigunta special train facilitates pilgrim passengers traveling to the Lord Venkateshwara Temple at Tirumala, with stoppages at all stations in the Rayalaseema region.

The Union Minister also shared insights into the rapid expansion of the railway network nationwide, emphasising the completion of electrification works in Andhra Pradesh.

He disclosed that 32 railway line projects, covering approximately 5074 track kilometers, are in progress in the state.

Furthermore, he mentioned the provision of semi-high-speed indigenous Vande Bharat trains in Andhra Pradesh, connecting Hyderabad-Vijayawada to Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad-Vijayawada to Tirupati, and Vijayawada to Chennai.(UNI)