AP Chambers Seeks Fourth Line on Key Rail Route

05 Jun 2025 CW Team

The Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation (AP Chambers) has appealed to Indian Railways to approve the quadrupling of the Duvvada–Nidadavole railway line to strengthen freight capacity and support industrial expansion in the region.

In a letter to Narendra A. Patil, Divisional Railway Manager of the Vijayawada Division, AP Chambers president Potluri Bhaskara Rao and general secretary B. Raja Sekhar underlined the strategic role of Duvvada Station in Visakhapatnam, which services major industrial hubs such as the SEZ, Med Tech Zone, Vizag Steel Plant, Bulk Drug Park, and various manufacturing zones.

The proposed ArcelorMittal-Nippon Steel Plant in Anakapalli, along with robust agricultural and industrial operations across the Duvvada–Nidadavole corridor, further underscore the route's importance. The area also acts as an aqua and agricultural hub, exporting produce such as coconut, palm, and paddy.

Bhaskara Rao emphasised that infrastructure projects like the upcoming Petrochemical Complexes in Kakinada, the Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Duvvada–Anakapalli, and regional refineries necessitate a fourth rail line. “This new line could function as a Dedicated Freight Corridor, allowing faster, safer, and more cost-effective transport than roadways,” he noted.

He added that boosting cargo-handling capacity would significantly enhance freight throughput and generate increased revenue for the Vijayawada Division, positioning it as a logistics and industrial gateway for Andhra Pradesh.

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