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Transport in Andhra Pradesh

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Andhra Pradesh has an extensive and diverse transport network. With a 974 km (605 mi) coastline, the state has one major port at Visakhapatnam and 15 notified ports. Its ports handled about 199.23 million tonnes of cargo in 2023–24. The state also has 888 km (552 mi) of inland waterways, including a section of National Waterway 4. There are three international airports at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Tirupati, along with domestic airports at Rajahmundry, Kadapa, and Kurnool, and a private airport at Puttaparthi. The state handled about 2.47 million domestic air passengers in 2021–22.

Andhra Pradesh has about 3,969 km (2,466 mi) of railway network operated by the Indian Railways. A section of the Howrah–Chennai main line runs through the state. The South Coast Railway zone is headquartered in Visakhapatnam, and became operational in June 2026. Vijayawada is one of busiest railway stations in India. The state has about 123,334 km (76,636 mi) of roads, including national highways, state highways, district roads, and local roads. The government-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation is the major public transport operator, carrying approximately 3.68 million passengers daily. As of 2023, the state had about 1.83 million transport vehicles and 13.7 million non-transport vehicles.

Road

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A toll gate on National Highway 65

The road network in the state is maintained by the Andhra Pradesh Road Development Corporation, which was established in 1988, functioning under the Roads and Buildings Department of the state government.[1] The state has a road network of 123,334 km (76,636 mi), including 4,302 km (2,673 mi) of national highways, 7,255 km (4,508 mi) of state highways, 19,783 km (12,293 mi) of major district roads, and 91,994 km (57,162 mi) of other roads.[2] Other type of roads include 21,740.90 km (13,509.17 mi) in urban local bodies with 19,118.97 km (11,879.98 mi) of municipal roads.[3]

NH 16 is the longest national highway in the state stretching for 1,024 km (636 mi) from Srikakulam district to Nellore district along the eastern coast.[2][4][5] It forms a part of the Golden Quadrilateral network and AH 45 of the Asian Highway Network.[6][7] Some of the highways have been developed as expressways including Vijayawada–Hyderabad Expressway, NAM Expressway, and Surat–Chennai Expressway.[8]

Bus

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An intracity bus operated by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation

The state government-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation provides public bus services.[9] As of 2023, it operates a fleet of 11,098 buses across 129 depots, ferrying 3.68 million passengers daily.[10]: 176  The APSRTC is headquartered at the RTC House in Pandit Nehru bus station, Vijayawada.[11][12] Apart from government run APSRTC, private buses also operate in specific routes across the state.[13] Apart from ferrying passengers, APSRTC also transports luggage, parcels, and goods in buses.[14]

Vehicles

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As of 2023, the state had 1.83 million transport vehicles, of which goods carriers constituted 53.6%, and auto rickshaws 36.2%. There were 13.7 million non-transport vehicles, of which motorcycles constituted 89.5%, and four-wheelers constituted 7.3%.[10]: 173  Auto rickshaws are used for intra city commute, and "She Autos", driven by women, were introduced in 2017.[15] The transport of goods in the state depends mainly on lorries, mini trucks and auto rickshaws.[16]

Rail

[edit]
Vijayawada Junction is one of the busiest railheads in the region

The history of rail transport in the state dates back to 1843 when a short railway line was constructed along the beach in Visakhapatnam. In 1845, a railway line was established for ferrying and construction materials for building a dam near Rajahmundry. The Madras Railway established a rail connection from Madras to Renigunta in September 1862.[17] The Rajahmundry–Visakhapatnam line was established in 1893 and the link between Madras and Vijayawada was established in 1899, thereby completing the Howrah-Chennai main line.[18][19] The Howrah–Chennai main line, which runs through the state, is proposed to be upgraded into a high-speed rail corridor through the Diamond Quadrilateral project of the Indian Railways.[20][21]

Andhra Pradesh has a railway route network of 3,703.25 km (2,301.09 mi) in 2016,[22] which had been extended to 3,969 km (2,466 mi) by 2022.[23][24] The railway network forms part of the South Central railway,[25] East Coast railway,[26] South Western railway,[27] and Southern Railway zones.[28] South Coast Railway zone, with headquarters in Visakhapatnam, was announced in 2019,[29][30] and came to effect on 1 June 2026.[31] There are 180+ railway stations in the state,[32] including three A1 category stations.[33] Vijayawada is one of the busiest rail junctions in the country.[34] Visakhapatnam was declared the cleanest railway station in the country, as per an assessment in 2018.[35] Shimiliguda is one of the highest altitude broad-gauge stations in the country.[36]

Air

[edit]
Vijayawada Airport

The state has three international airports.[2][10]: 180–183  Tirupati and Visakhapatnam Airports were established in 1976,[37] and Vijayawada Airport began operations in 2003.[38] The Visakhapatnam Airport functioned as a civil enclave alongside the airbase INS Dega, operated by the Indian Navy, from 1986 to August 2026,[39][40] when it was replaced by Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport.[41][42] The state has three domestic airports at Rajahmundry, Kadapa, and Kurnool,[2][10]: 180–183  and a privately owned airport at Puttaparthi.[43] In 2021-22, the state catered to a domestic air passenger traffic of 2.47 million.[44] In 2014, the state government announced plans to set up an airport in every district of the state including a new international airport in Amaravati.[45]

Water

[edit]
Visakhapatnam Port

The state has a 974 km (605 mi) long coastline.[2][46] The state has one major port at Visakhapatnam under the administrative control of the central government and 15 notified ports under the control of the state government.[10]: 183 [47] Apart from Visakhapatnam, which is one of the major ports on the east coast of India,[48] other deep water ports include Gangavaram, and Krishnapatnam.[2] The states' ports handled 199.23 Mt (196,080,000 long tons; 219,610,000 short tons) of cargo in 2023-24.[47] As of 2023, the state government is developing new sea ports at Machilipatnam, Mulapeta, and Ramayapatnam.[2][49]

About 888 km (552 mi) of inland waterways exist in the state, which form part of the National Waterway network.[2] In 2017, the Inland Waterways Authority of India announced the development of the 1,080 km (670 mi) long National Waterway 4 from Kakinada to Puducherry via Vijayawada.[50]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh Road Development Corporation". Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Infrastructure". Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "Details of Roads in each ULB of Andhra Pradesh". Municipal Administration and Urban Development. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  4. ↑ "List of National Highways Passing through A.P. State". Roads and Buildings Department. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "National Highways". Roads and Buildings Department. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Details of National Highways (PDF). Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (Report). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  7. ↑ Asian Highway Route Map (PDF) (Report). Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  8. ↑ Expressways of India (PDF) (Report). National Highways Authority of India. August 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  9. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh Transport department". Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Socio economic survey 2022–23 (PDF). Government of Andhra Pradesh. 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "Naidu to open RTC block today". Hans India. 6 June 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  12. ↑ "Vijayawada bus station to be RTC headquarters". Hans India. 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  13. ↑ "RTA officials book 29 cases against private buses". Hans India. 14 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  14. ↑ "APSRTC to offer cargo pick-up, door delivery". The Hindu. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "She autos roll out in style in city". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  16. ↑ "Not much impact on first day of lorry strike in Andhra Pradesh". The New Indian Express. 31 March 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  17. ↑ "IR History: Early Days – I". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "IR History: Early Days – II". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 26 July 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  19. ↑ "Vijayawada – Historical Background" (PDF). South Central Railway. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  20. ↑ "Railway board looks at two more bullet train corridors". 25 June 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Diamond Quadrilateral" (Press release). Archived from the original on 12 June 2017.
  22. ↑ "Statewise Length of Railway Lines and Survey For New Railway Lines". Press Information Bureau (Press release). 7 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  23. ↑ Indian railways year book 2021–22 (PDF). Indian Railways. 2022. p. 62. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  24. ↑ "Indian Railway map (searchable)". Indian Railway. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  25. ↑ "State-wise route kilometerage". South Central Railway zone. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  26. ↑ "East coast railway divisions". East Coast Railway zone. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  27. ↑ "South Western Railway – divisions". South Western Railway zone. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  28. ↑ "Southern Railways, about us". Southern Railway. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  29. ↑ "Cabinet approves South Coast railway zone". Press Information Bureau (Press release). Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  30. ↑ B, Madhu Gopal (28 December 2021). "Delays dog new railway zone". Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  31. ↑ Peri, Usha (1 June 2026). "After decades-long wait, South Coast Railway set to begin operations from Visakhapatnam on June 1". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2 June 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  32. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh railways". Map My India. Archived from the original on 7 June 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  33. ↑ "Category-wise no. of stations" (PDF). South Central Railway. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  34. ↑ "Upgraded Gunadala rail station by March". Deccan Chronicle. 19 June 2013. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  35. ↑ "Vizag billed the cleanest rail station". The Hindu. 18 May 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  36. ↑ Bhattacharjee, Sumit (3 November 2011). "Hidden 100 – 58 tunnels. 84 bridges. Welcome to Araku Valley". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  37. ↑ "Tirupati International Airport". Tirupati Urban Development Authority. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  38. ↑ "Air Deccan takes off finally". The Times of India. 11 October 2003. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  39. ↑ "Visakhapatnam Airport to be Shut for a Week". The New Indian Express. 15 October 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  40. ↑ "INS Dega". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  41. ↑ Tripathi, Neha LM (29 July 2026). "Commercial ops to shift to Bhogapuram from Visakhapatnam Airport on August 17". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 29 July 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  42. ↑ "Bhogapuram international airport will be ready by 2025, says Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath". The Hindu. 16 December 2023. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  43. ↑ "Puttaparthi airport to facilitate emergency landings; security to be beefed up". Deccan Chronicle. 25 July 2021. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  44. ↑ Boda, Tarun (21 March 2022). "A.P. airports see 60% jump in domestic passenger footfall". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  45. ↑ "Airports" (PDF). Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  46. ↑ T, Appala Naidu. "AP gears up to implement fishing ban". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  47. 1 2 "Connectivity". Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board. Archived from the original on 12 September 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  48. ↑ "Competition shakes up Visakhapatnam port". Mint. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  49. ↑ V., Raghavendra (17 August 2023). "Works apace at seaports and fishing harbours being constructed in Andhra Pradesh". Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  50. ↑ "Inland waterway cargo traffic in Andhra to start in December". The Times of India. 10 February 2017. Archived from the original on 13 May 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
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