Ajay Kumar at 17:00, 24 August 2023

2023-08-24T17:00:48Z

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{{Short description|Railway division of India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox rail
| railroad_name = Guntur Railway Division
| logo_filename =
| logo_size = 90px
| system_map =
| map_caption =
| map_size =
| marks = GNT
| image = File:Rail Vikas Bhavan, Guntur.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Rail Vikas Bhavan (Divisional Railway Manager Office) at Pattabhipuram of Guntur
| locale = [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
| start_year = 1 April 2003
| end_year =
| predecessor_line = [[Southern Railway Zone (India)|Southern Railways]]
| successor_line =
| gauge = Broad
| old_gauge = Metre
| electrification = 1989
| length = {{Convert|629.516|km|abbr=on}}
| hq_city = [[Guntur]]
| website = [http://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,291,354 official website]
}}'''Guntur Railway Division''' is one of the six divisions of the [[South Central Railway zone]] of [[Indian Railways]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-gets-new-south-coast-railway-zone/article26391560.ece|title=A.P. gets new South Coast Railway zone|date=2019-02-28|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-05-02|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The division was sanctioned in 1995–96 and was fully operational on 1 April 2003, with its headquarters at [[Guntur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/jul/04ap.htm|title=Guntur Division|access-date=2014-05-08}}</ref><ref name="profile">{{cite web|url=https://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/uploads/files/1469081050829-aboutus-gen-18-7-16.pdf|title=Evolution of Guntur Division|website=South Central Railway|page=3|format=PDF|access-date=30 November 2015}}</ref> The ''Rail Vikas Bhavan'' in Pattabhipuram area of Guntur, serves as the office of ''Divisional Railway Manager''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/150418/guntur-drm-office-first-in-ir-to-get-igbc-green-campus-platinum-rating.html|title=Guntur DRM office first in IR to get IGBC Green Campus Platinum Rating|date=2018-04-15|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref> The present divisional manager is V.G.Bhooma.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/guntur-railway-station-gets-facelift/article26879813.ece|title=Guntur railway station gets facelift|author=Staff Reporter|date=18 April 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=23 April 2019|language=en-IN}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Chelama.JPG|thumb|Chelama Tunnel, Guntur Division]]
[[File:Nallamala View.JPG|thumb|The remains of the old Dorabavi Viaduct, Bogada [[Guntur]] Division]]

The [[Krishna Canal railway station|Krishna Canal]]-[[Nandyal]] (KCC-NDL) stretch was a part of the important East-West coast link that connected [[Margao]] in [[Goa]] to [[Masulipatnam]] in the erstwhile [[Madras Province]] of [[British Indian Army|British India]]. It was originally built to [[Narrow Gauge|Metre Gauge]] by the Southern Mahratta Railway (later the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway-MSMR) during 1889–90.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,283 |title=Southern Mahratta Railway |access-date=2014-05-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108223043/http://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0%2C1%2C283 |archive-date= 8 January 2016 |df=dmy }}</ref> The track passed through the [[Nallamala Hills]] and as a result quite a few major engineering works were undertaken in the course of the railroad construction, the most impressive of them being the massive Dorabavi Viaduct<ref>{{cite web | url=http://cape2jat.blogspot.nl/2007_07_01_archive.html | title=Dorabavi Viaduct | access-date=2014-05-08}}</ref> and the [[Bogada Tunnel]], both of them about 30 km from Nandyal. This section was converted to Broad Gauge during 1993–95. The gauge conversion was a difficult task owing to the difficult terrain. The old alignment between Gazulapalli and [[Diguvametta]] was abandoned and a new Bogada tunnel, about 1.6 km in length and a new Dorabavi Viaduct located at a much lower altitude were constructed at a huge expense. The railway passes through the historic [[Cumbum, Andhra Pradesh|Cumbum]] Tank, starting from [[Cumbum railway station]] and spread over an area of 7 km. It is one of the most picturesque valleys in [[Guntur]]-[[Nandyal]] section of South Central Railway.<ref>''Ibid''</ref>

The Guntur-Macherla section was opened in 1930, by the ''Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway'' to serve the backward inner [[Telangana]] region. It too was originally [[metre gauge]] and was converted to {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] in 1992–93.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/-Andhra-Pradesh/Macherla/Macherla-Railway-Station-51999.htm | title=Macherla Railway Station | access-date=2014-05-08}}</ref> This section was used for the transport of limestone, quartz &cement, primarily from [[Piduguralla]], popularly known as the Lime City.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article1398603.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Grand start to Palnadu fest | date=20 December 2008}}</ref> The section from Guntur to the coastal town of [[Repalle]] was built to the broad gauge by the Madras and Southern Railway in 1916. This line connected to the East Coast main line at [[Tenali]]. The section from Tenali to Repalle was owned by Guntur District Board until 1964. The foundation stone for the 152 km long [[Bibinagar]]-[[Nadikudi]] rail project that opened an alternative route to [[Secunderabad]] from [[Vijayawada]] and connected the interior of Telangana to [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad]] was laid by the then Prime Minister of India, [[Indira Gandhi]] on 7 April 1974. The project was finally finished in 1989 and the line commissioned a year later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telugupedia.com/wiki/index.php?title=South_Central_Railway.htm |title=Project Line Commissioned |access-date=2014-05-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104221242/http://www.telugupedia.com/wiki/index.php?title=South_Central_Railway.htm |archive-date=4 November 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref>

Two major bridges to span the [[Krishna River]] and [[Musi River (India)|Musi]] are located in this section. It is used by many south/east bound trains in a bid to decongest the heavily used [[Warangal]]-[[Vijayawada]] line. New rail lines are added in the region such as [[Nadikudi–Srikalahasti section]], part of which comes under the division. This will be an alternate route to [[Chennai]]/[[Tirupati]] for [[Guntur City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railnews.in/new-nadikudi-srikalahasti-railway-line-project-on-scr-to-be-ready-for-commercial-run-by-december/ |title=Nadikudi-Srikalahasti line|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uniindia.com/nadikudi-srikalahasti-new-rail-line-a-key-link-between-cities-of-guntur-and-tirupati-in-ap/south/news/1439420.html|title=New line between Guntur and Tirupati|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref>

== Jurisdiction ==

The jurisdiction of the division covers the districts of [[Guntur District|Guntur]], [[Kurnool District|Kurnool]], [[Prakasam District|Prakasam]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district|Yadadri Bhuvanagiri]], [[Nalgonda District|Nalgonda]] in [[Telangana]].<ref name="profile" /> It has a total route length of {{Convert|629.516|km|abbr=on}} and running track of {{Convert|660.992|km|abbr=on|}}.<ref name="jurisdiction">{{cite web|title=System Map 2018|url=https://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1534161850654-Sys_map2018.pdf|website=South Central Railway|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> In Andhra Pradesh, it has a total route length of {{Convert|484.78|km|abbr=on|}} and in Telangana it is {{Convert|144.94|km|abbr=on|}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1447154255421-About%20us%201.pdf|title=Jurisdiction of Guntur Division|website=South Central Railway|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>

=== Sections and branch lines ===

[[File:000Guntur Division.JPG|thumb|Jurisdictional route map of Guntur Railway Division]]
[[File:Railway track between Nandyal and Giddalur as viewed from Nallamala Ghat Road.jpg|thumb|Railway track between [[Nandyal]] and [[Giddalur]] as viewed from [[Nallamala]] Ghat Road]]

The sections and branch lines route map breakup is as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Section
! Distance (in km)
! Double/Single line
! Traction
|-
| [[Guntur–Krishna Canal section|Guntur–Krishna Canal]] (excluding {{rws|Krishna Canal}})
| 27.12
| Double
| Electric
|-
|[[Guntur–Tenali section|Guntur–Tenali]] (excluding {{rws|Tenali}})
| 24.27
| Double
| Electric
|-
|[[Pagidipalli–Nallapadu section]] (excluding {{rws|Pagidipalli}})
| 243.92
| Single
| Electric
|-
|[[Nallapadu–Nandyal section]]
| 251.98
| Single
| Electric
|-
|[[Tenali–Repalle branch line|Tenali–Repalle]] (excluding {{rws|Tenali}})
| 32.10
| Single
| Electric
|-
|[[Nadikudi–Macherla branch line|Nadikudi–Macherla]]
| 35.01
| Single
| Electric
|-
|[[Motamarri–Vishnupuram section|Vishnupuram – Janpahad]]
| 10.64
| Single
| Electric
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;" | Other lines
|-
| {{rws|Guntur}} – [[Nallapadu]]
| 5.00
| Double
| Electric
|-
|Guntur Byepass Line
|1.94
|Single
|Electric
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''629.75'''
| '''''30.36''' km of double line''
| '''''312.55''' km of electrified track''
|}

'''''Source''': SCR Railway Map 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1540210612510-SCR-sysmapA1_2018.pdf|title=SCR Railway Map 2018|website=South Central Railway|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>''

'''''Under construction''''':
*{{rws|Nadikudi}}-{{rws|Srikalahasti}} railway line

=== Categorization of stations ===
[[File:Guntur Junction railway station in 2007.jpg|thumb|Guntur Junction railway station in 2007]]

The list includes the stations under the jurisdiction of Guntur railway division and classified based on their respective category.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#fff;"
|-
! style="background:#ffd750;" ! | Category
! style="background:#ffd750;" ! | No. of stations
! style="background:#ffd750;" ! | Names of stations
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| '''A1''' Category
|| 0
|| —
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | '''A''' Category
| style="text-align:center;" | 1
| style="text-align:center;" | {{rws|Guntur Junction}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | '''B''' Category
| style="text-align:center;" | 2
| style="text-align:center;" | {{rws|Nandyal}} Junction and [[Nalgonda]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| '''C''' Category
|| 0
|| —
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | '''D''' Category
| style="text-align:center;" | {{align|center|13}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Cumbum, [[Donakonda railway station|Donakonda]], Giddalur, {{rws|Macherla}}, Markapur Road, [[Mangalagiri railway station|Mangalagiri]], Mirylaguda, {{rws|Nadikudi}}, [[Narasaraopet railway station|Narasaraopet]], [[Piduguralla]], [[Repalle]], [[Sattenapalle]], {{rws|Vinukonda}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | '''E''' Category
| style="text-align:center;" |{{align|center|43}}
| style="text-align:center;" |New Guntur railway station

|-
| style="text-align:center;" | '''F''' Category
| style="text-align:center;" | {{align|center|13}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Angalakuduru, Gudimetta, Gudipudi, GURZ (station code), Krishnamsettypalle, Lingamguntla, Mamdapur, Mandapadu, Pedakakani Halt, Penumarru, Rentachintala, Vellalcheruvu Halt, [[Zampini railway station|Zampini]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Non-operational
| style="text-align:center;" | {{align|center|4}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Bommaipalle, JNPD (station code), Kondrapole Halt, Nandipalli
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| '''Total'''
|| '''75'''
|| —
|}

Source:<ref name=profile />

== Performance and earnings ==

The division operates around 200 express, passenger and freight trains every day.<ref name="commodities">{{cite news|last1=Ilyas|first1=MD|title=Connected Guntur will spur growth|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/151221/nation-current-affairs/article/connected-guntur-will-spur-growth|access-date=14 March 2016|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=21 December 2015|location=[[Guntur]]}}</ref> The primary commodity transported by the division is [[cement]], [[clinker (cement)|clinker]], [[food grain]]s, besides [[coal]] and [[fertilizer]]. Other commodities include [[cotton]], [[chillies]], [[limestone]], [[Paddy (unmilled rice)|paddy]], [[tobacco]] and [[timber]] waste.<ref name="commodities" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Andhra Pradesh / Guntur News : Guntur railway division nets profit |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/17/stories/2008041751240200.htm |access-date=2 May 2019 |date=5 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105190844/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/17/stories/2008041751240200.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=5 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=ilyas |first1=md |title=Connected Guntur will spur growth |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/151221/nation-current-affairs/article/connected-guntur-will-spur-growth |access-date=2 May 2019 |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=21 December 2015 |language=en}}</ref> In 2003, the [[Freight transport|freight]] earnings were {{INRConvert|93|c||abbr=on}}.<ref name="divisional earnings">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article3152585.ece|title=Guntur Railway division earnings|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2007-08-27|location=[[Chennai]]|date=26 April 2006}}</ref> After a decade, it stands at {{INRConvert|452|c}} in 2013–14. In 2008-09, the gross revenue was {{INRConvert|237|c}}, a decline in figures compared to previous fiscal of {{INRConvert|272|c}}, due to [[Late 2000s recession|recession]].<ref name="netprofits2">{{cite web|title=News Archives:|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/17/stories/2008041751240200.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=17 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105190844/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/17/stories/2008041751240200.htm|archive-date=5 November 2013|location=[[Guntur]]|url-status=dead|date=17 April 2008}}</ref> In the fiscal year 2018–19, it registered a growth of 69% freight earnings alone.<ref name="fy2018">{{cite news |last1=MN |first1=Samdani |title=Guntur posts 69% growth in revenue from freight traffic {{!}} Vijayawada News – Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/guntur-posts-69-growth-in-revenue-from-freight-traffic/articleshow/68945996.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2 May 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=19 April 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Revenue ''(in million rupees)''
! 2019-20<ref name="fy2018" />
! 2018–19<ref name="fy2018" />
|-
| Passenger
| 1570.4
| 1499.0
|-
| Freight
| 1934.4
| 2675.4
|-
| Sundry
| 204.5
| 207.0
|}
* ''Gross includes passenger, freight, sundry and other coaching revenues''

=== Awards and achievements ===
*''Rail Vikas Bhavan'', the office of the divisional railway manager was awarded ''platinum rating'' by ''Greening and Beautification Corporation of Andhra Pradesh''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff Reporter |title=Guntur railway station gets facelift |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/guntur-railway-station-gets-facelift/article26879813.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=2 May 2019 |language=en-IN |date=18 April 2019}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|India}}
* [[Divisions of Indian Railways]]
* [[Vijayawada railway division]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{coord|16|18|04|N|80|26|36|E|region:IN_type:city|display=title}}

{{Commons category|Guntur Railway Division}}

{{Railways in Southern India}}
{{South Coast Railway zone}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guntur Division}}
[[Category:Guntur railway division| ]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Guntur railway division]]
[[Category:Divisions of Indian Railways]]
[[Category:2003 establishments in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:South Central Railway zone]]

Guntur railway division - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 17:00, 24 August 2023