Railways propose new freight bypass to ease congestion at Vijayawada Junction

Vijayawada: In a major move aimed at reducing congestion at the busy Vijayawada Junction, the railway authorities have proposed a dedicated bypass line for goods trains operating between Visakhapatnam and Chennai. Officials have already prepared and submitted a detailed project report (DPR) to the railway board for the construction of a 37-kilometre bypass railway line between Indupalli in Krishna district and Duggirala in Guntur district.The proposed bypass is expected to significantly ease freight traffic pressure on Vijayawada Junction, one of the busiest railway stations in the country, where goods trains currently face long delays due to priority being given to passenger services.At present, goods trains travelling from Howrah and Visakhapatnam towards Chennai are forced to pass through Vijayawada station. Due to heavy passenger traffic, freight trains often have to wait for hours at nearby stations for signal clearance, severely affecting operational efficiency. Railway officials said the average speed of goods trains in the region has dropped to nearly 17 kmph because of congestion.To address the issue, the railways have proposed a new bypass route beginning at Indupalli on the Gudivada-Vijayawada railway line and ending at Duggirala on the Vijayawada-Chennai route via Tenali. Once completed, goods trains coming from Visakhapatnam through Gudivada can directly proceed towards Chennai without entering Vijayawada Junction.Currently, freight trains from Visakhapatnam reach Vijayawada either through Rajahmundry, Kovvur, Nidadavolu, Tadepalligudem and Eluru or through the Bhimavaram-Gudivada route. In both cases, they must pass through Vijayawada before heading towards Chennai.Railway officials are also considering whether the bypass should be constructed as a single line or a double line. Since the project requires a bridge across the Krishna River, cost and feasibility assessments are still under review. However, officials believe the project could transform freight movement efficiency in Andhra Pradesh once approved.