Major infrastructure, revenue and service milestones

During the calendar year 2025, South Central Railway (SCR) recorded consistent and impressive growth across all operational spheres, reinforcing its position as one of the most dynamic zones of Indian Railways. The year was marked by major milestones in infrastructure development, passenger amenities, staff welfare, safety enhancement, revenue generation and sustainable practices.

One of the most significant achievements came in January 2025 with the inauguration of Charlapalli, a new satellite terminal for Hyderabad. Developed to decongest the city’s three major terminals, the facility promises smoother and hassle-free journeys for passengers in the Telangana capital region. In February, SCR also demonstrated leadership in healthcare knowledge-sharing by hosting the First Annual Conference of the Railway Association of Dermatologists, strengthening professional collaboration within the Railway Medical fraternity.

Staff welfare remained a priority throughout the year. In March, a state-of-the-art 64-slice CT Scan machine was commissioned at the Lallaguda Central Hospital in Secunderabad, greatly enhancing diagnostic facilities for railway beneficiaries. This was followed in June by the introduction of an in-house Cardiac Cath Lab at the same hospital, significantly improving critical cardiac care.

Passenger-focused station redevelopment gained momentum under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. In May 2025, Begumpet, Karimnagar and Warangal stations in Telangana were redeveloped as Amrit Stations and inaugurated by the Prime Minister via video link. Adding a strong tourism and heritage dimension, the iconic Kacheguda heritage station underwent architectural beautification at a cost of Rs 2.2 crore, highlighting its Indo-Saracenic and Indo-Gothic design with enhanced illumination. The project was dedicated to the nation in June.

The year also saw the launch and extension of several important train services. A new daily train between Kacheguda and Bhagat Ki Kothi was flagged off in July, while a crucial bypass line at Peddapalli junction was commissioned to reduce congestion and running time. In August, the Vande Bharat Express between Mumbai (CSMT) and Jalna was extended up to Nanded. December witnessed the introduction of a new weekly Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi train and the extension of the Chennai–Vijayawada Vande Bharat Express up to Narasapur.

On the infrastructure and capacity front, SCR delivered strong results. Between January and November 2025, freight loading reached 136.2 million tonnes, up from 128.4 MTs in the corresponding period of 2024. Freight revenue rose to Rs 12,841 crore, while passenger revenue increased to Rs 5,525 crore, taking total gross originating revenue to Rs 19,314 crore.

Significant safety and capacity enhancements were also achieved. The zone eliminated 68 manned level crossing gates, constructed 22 road over bridges and 60 road under bridges, and added 199 km of track, including new, double and third lines. SCR electrified 184 track km during the year and achieved 100 per cent electrification of the Secunderabad Division. Advanced signalling projects, including automatic block signalling over 529 km, further boosted line capacity.

SCR’s commitment to sustainability earned national recognition, with the zone receiving the highest number of Shunya and Shunya Plus labels for net energy-positive stations and service buildings. It also bagged four National Energy Conservation Awards, capping a year of remarkable progress and transformation.