Secunderabad Junction railway station Secunderabad, Hyderabad | |||||||||
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 Indian Railways andHyderabad MMTS station | |||||||||
 Front view of the station | |||||||||
| General information | |||||||||
| Location | Station Road, Railway Officer Colony, Botiguda, Bhoiguda,Secunderabad Telangana India | ||||||||
| Coordinates | 17°26′01″N78°30′06″E / 17.4337°N 78.5016°E /17.4337; 78.5016 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 535.60 metres (1,757.2 ft) | ||||||||
| Owned by | Indian Railways | ||||||||
| Operated by | South Central Railway zone | ||||||||
| Line(s) | Secunderabad–Nagpur section Wadi–Secunderabad–Kazipet–Vijayawada section Secunderabad–Guntur section Secunderabad–Manmad section Secunderabad–Dhone section | ||||||||
| Platforms | 10 | ||||||||
| Tracks | 11 | ||||||||
| Connections | |||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||
| Structure type | At-grade | ||||||||
| Parking | 350[1][2] | ||||||||
| Accessible |  | ||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||
| Status | Functioning ISO-9001 station[3] | ||||||||
| Station code | SC[4] | ||||||||
| Zone(s) | South Central Railway | ||||||||
| Division(s) | Secunderabad | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| Opened | October 9, 1874; 150 years ago (1874-10-09)[5][6] | ||||||||
| Electrified | 1993; 32 years ago (1993) | ||||||||
| Previous names | Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway Hyderabad–Godavari Valley Railway | ||||||||
| Passengers | |||||||||
| 2023–24 | 27,700,000[7] ([8][9]) | ||||||||
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Secunderabad Junction railway station (station code:SC[10]) is an NSG–1 categoryIndian railway station inSecunderabad railway division ofSouth Central Railway zone. It is the majorRailway Junction in the city ofHyderabad,Telangana,India. It is one of the busiest railway stations inSouth India and one of the most important hubs in the country and acommuter rail hub in theHyderabad urban area. Built in 1874 by theNizam of Hyderabad during theBritish era, it was the main station ofNizam's Guaranteed State Railway until theKacheguda railway station opened in 1916. The station was taken over by Indian Railways in 1951, when NGSR was nationalised. Its mainportico and concourse are influenced by Nizamesque architecture.[11] The station, which resembles a fort, is a tourist attraction in the twin cities of Hyderabad andSecunderabad.[11]
It is connected by rail to all regions of India. About 170,000 passengers arrive at (or depart from) the station daily on 229 trains. On theVijayawada–Wadi (the SCR's main line) andSecunderabad–Manmad railway lines, it is the zone headquarters of the South Central Railway and the headquarters of the SCR's Secunderabad Division. The station has receivedISO-9001 certification for quality management in ticket booking, parcel and luggage booking andplatform management.[3] Indian Railways has proposed an upgrade to a world-class station, emphasising vertical expansion.[12] It is connected to nearly all the parts of the twin cities by theHyderabad MMTS,Telangana State Road Transport Corporation buses and theHyderabad Metro. It is one of the top 100 booking stations in the Indian Railways.[13]
The station was proposed in 1870,[5] when theNizam of HyderabadMir Mahboob Ali Khan Siddiqi ordered to construct the secundrabad railway station, the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad state decided to connectHyderabad State with the rest of India.Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway was formed as a private company, and construction of the Secunderabad–Wadi line began that year. The line, which would connect Hyderabad with theBritish Raj'sGreat Indian Peninsula Railway main line atWadi Junction, was funded by the Nizam.[5]
The Secunderabad–Wadi line and the Secunderabad railway station were finished on 9 October 1874,[6] introducing railways to Hyderabad. The station's main portico and concourse were influenced by Nizam-era architecture.[11] Resembling a fort, it is a tourist attraction in the twin cities.[11] Hyderabad State took over the railway in 1879.
[5] In 1871, the Secunderabad station was connected to theSingareni Collieries Company by a 146-mile (235 km) line. The Secunderabad–Wadi line was extended toVijayawada Junction as the Vijayawada–Wadi line in 1889.[5] Abroad-gauge connection between Vijayawada Junction andChennai Central opened the following year,[5] enabling rail travel betweenHyderabad andChennai (thenMadras).
TheHyderabad–Godavari Valley Railway was established in 1900 with the opening of theManmad–Secunderabadmetre-gauge line,[14] and merged into the NGSR in 1930.[14] In 1916, the Kachiguda railway station was built asNGSR headquarters and to regulate traffic at Secunderabad.[11] Diesel rail cars manufactured byGanz were tried for the first time in Hyderabad State by the NGSR in 1939.[14]
On 5 November 1951,Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway was nationalised by thegovernment of India and merged into the government-ownedIndian Railways (IR) as part of theMinistry of Railways.[15] The Secunderabad station was assigned to theCentral Railway zone, withVictoria Terminus its headquarters. In 1966, theSouth Central Railway zone was formed with Secunderabad its headquarters (as well as the headquarters of Indian Railways' Secunderabad Division.[15]Rail Nilayam (the zone headquarters) was built in 1972, and the division headquarters was built in 1980.[11]
TheIndian Railways Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications (IRISET), one of IR's six centralised training institutes, was established in Secunderabad by the Ministry of Railways on 24 November 1957.[16] to address the specialised training needs of railway staff and officers inrailway signalling and telecommunications. In 1967, theAjanta Express was introduced between Kachiguda andManmad via Secunderabad. With an average speed of 42.5 kilometres per hour (26.4 mph), it was India's fastestmetre-gauge train at the time. The Secunderabad–Vijayawada JunctionGolconda Express was introduced in 1969. The country's fasteststeam train, with an average speed of 58 kilometres per hour (36 mph). it was later extended toGuntur.[16] In February 1978, the Secunderabad Division was split into two divisions: Secunderabad and Hyderabad.[11]
Although an early computerised reservation system began at Secunderabad in July 1989,[17] the 30 September 1989 introduction of SCR's computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) at the station[11] made reservations easier. The system, later linked toNew Delhi (1997),Howrah (1998),Mumbai andChennai (both 1999), preceded the CONCERT reservation system which was developed at Secunderabad in September 1994[17] and implemented in January 1995.[18]
The Secunderabad–Mahbubnagarmetre-gauge section was converted tobroad gauge in 1993, breaking an important north–south metre-gauge freight connection north from Secunderabad. That year, the Secunderabad station was electrified towardsKazipet andVijayawada Junction. The electric-locomotive shed in South Lallaguda (near the Secunderabad station), with a capacity of 100 locomotives, was built in 1995.[17]
TheRajdhani Express, which connects India'sstate capitals withNew Delhi (the national capital), was proposed inAndhra Pradesh between Secunderabad and theHazrat Nizamuddin railway station in the 2001 Indian rail budget.[19] TheSecunderabad Rajdhani Express was introduced on 27 February 2002.[11] TheHyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS), the state's first of its kind, was introduced in 2003 with two lines:Lingampally–Hyderabad railway station (initially 13 trains daily) and Lingampally– Secunderabad (11 trains daily).[20] Another line was built between Secunderabad andFalaknuma railway station. SCR operated the last metre-gauge train on theNizamabad–Manoharabad line on 30 June 2004,[21] ending metre-gauge service (which began during the 1930s on the Secunderabad–Manmad line of the NGSR) to facilitate IR's broad-gauge track-conversion program.[22][23] The line was open by 7 February 2005[22] after the conversion, permitting railway traffic on the Secunderabad–Manmad stretch of the Kachiguda–Manmad line.[22]
SCR introduced theHimalaya Special freight train at Secunderabad on 7 November 2007. Intended for the high-speed transport of freight such as coal, the train was expected to run at 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph).[24] The 2008–2009Rail Budget provided for Secunderabad to upgrade to a world-class station.[25][26] SCR's firstDuronto Express, between Secunderabad andHazrat Nizamuddin railway station, was flagged off by then Andhra Pradesh Chief MinisterKonijeti Rosaiah at Secunderabad on 14 March 2010.[27]
Secunderabad is one of India's largest and busiest railway stations. The main railway terminus and a commuter hub in theHyderabad urban area, it is one of three major stations serving the city; the other two areKacheguda railway station and theHyderabad Deccan railway station.
The station is the zonal headquarters of South Central Railways.[28] and the headquarters of the Secunderabad Division.[28] It is the busiest railway station in the state and SCR's Second-largest junction, after Vijayawada Junction. To reduce traffic at Secunderabad, theRailway Board has decided on a fourth major station in Hyderabad. There are two proposals for the new terminal:Malkajgiri andMoula-Ali.[29]
Secunderabad Station has a standard station layout. All its tracks are broad-gauge and electrified. TheSecunderabad–Manmad line is non-electrified, however, so diesel trains are common.
The station has ten platforms,[30] which are covered by areinforced concrete roof. Each platform can handle a train with more than 24 coaches.[30] There is an additional track between platforms seven and eight, which is a service track for theHyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System[31] and suburban trains (where two trains halt at the same platform, due to their short length). Platforms six and seven are divided in two (6A and B and 7A and B).
Platform use is:
Secunderabad is a junction of tracks from five directions:
The Vijayawada – Secunderabad and Repalle – Secunderabad lines join atBibinagar.
The station is serviced by an average of 229Inter-city andsuburban rail trains daily. Most trains originate or terminate at Secunderabad. The Vijayawada–Wadi line, which passes through the station, is one of SCR's busiest lines. It is also an IR freight station. Its Freight Operation Information System[32] monitors freight movement.
Secunderabad is served by a number of lines:[33]
It is one of Indian Railways' busiest stations. About 170,000 passengers use Secunderabad daily on over 200 trains. TheSecunderabad Rajdhani Express, between Secunderabad and theHazrat Nizamuddin railway station, was introduced on 27 February 2002.[11] Another dailyRajdhani Express, originating at theBangalore City railway station, also stops at Secunderabad. SeveralGarib Rath Express trains stop at the station, including the dailyVisakhapatnam–Secunderabad Garib Rath Express[34] and a train toYeswanthpur inBangalore.[35] The non-stopDuronto Express was introduced between Secunderabad and Hazrat Nizamuddin.
Allinter-city rail service is operated by Indian Railways. The bi-weekly Secunderabad–Mumbai Duronto Express, announced in the 2010–11 Union Railway Budget,[36] was expected to begin by 31 March 2011.[37] Most inter-city service operate toVijayawada Junction,Guntur Junction,Tenali,Visakhapatnam,New Delhi,Howrah station,Chennai Central and Bangalore. The greatest passenger volume is between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam. TheHyderabad–Visakhapatnam Godavari Express andGowthami Express are SCR's most prestigious trains.[38]
Secunderabad is the only station in the Hyderabad MMTS to connect to all four MMTS commuter lines, and is the system's commuter inter-change hub. The station is on Lines 2[39] and 3[40] of theHyderabad Metro.Secunderabad East metro station, on the blue line, is near Secunderabad Junction.[41]
Secunderabad Station is also the hub of suburbantransit trains (push-pull trains). These DHMU's run in the non-electrified rail lines in the suburbs of theHyderabad Urban Area. These also run in the electrified lines ofMMTS).
The following Hyderabad MMTS lines originate at (or pass through) Secunderabad:
Secunderabad has a number of passenger facilities, including modern security and parking. A coach depot for cleaning and maintenance is next to the station. The area around the station is sometimes congested.[42] The station has restaurants, cafes, a coffee shop, book stalls, waiting and cloak rooms, acyber cafe,[43] tourism agents' and train-inquiry counters, digital train-status boards, train-status announcements and foot bridges. A pharmacy has a dispensary and first-aid kit.
Three waiting rooms are at the station's north entrance, and two are at the south entrance. Anair-conditioned waiting room is on platform 1, and a non-air-conditioned dormitory is on the first floor.[44][45] The air-conditioned waiting room is free of charge for passengers with air-conditioned-class tickets. The latest dormitory would supplement the existing air-conditioned dormitory with eight beds and 13 rooms, each with two beds.
Both south-entrance waiting rooms, on platform 10, areair-conditioned. Intended for upper- and second-class passengers, they have comfortable chairs andpay toilets. Nearly 11,000 passengers use the waiting rooms daily.[46]
RPF personnel maintain security amd monitor suspicious activity, surveillance cameras were installed at the station after the13 September 2008 Delhi bombings.[47] Indian Railways plan to equip a commando outfit modeled on theNational Security Guard tocounter terrorism at the station.
After increasingterrorist threats,[31] SCR began baggage checks at an estimated cost of₹40 lakh (₹4 million, or US$65,000) as part of a pilot project.[48] To increase security, railway authorities introduced an integrated security system as part of the 2009 Rail Budget.[49]
The station has a large car and motorcycle parking lot, and anauto rickshaw stand is at the station entrance. The south entrance has ataxi stand for municipal and private taxis. Secunderabad is India's first railway station with an automated parking system.[50] The lot, built at a cost of₹6 million,[51] has a dispenser at its entrance to issue amagnetically-striped ticket with the time and date of arrival. A manual pay station is at the exit.
Secunderabad Junction has two ticket counters. Passengers can buy second- and general-class tickets on the train, since they are not reservable.[52] A computerised reservation facility is provided, and an information counter for tourists. A Passenger Operated Enquiry Terminal (POET) is available,[53] which can access the National Train Enquiry System (NTES).[53]Indrail Passes are available at the reservation center, about 200 meters from the station.
To conserve water, SCR installed a₹12-millionwater-reclamation plant at the station.[54] Station maintenance, including cleaning 800coaches, aprons and platforms, requires over 30,000 litres of water daily. With the water-recycling plant, used water is collected and sent to the plant forbiological andchemical treatment. The non-drinkable, recycled water is then used to clean coaches and platforms.
During the 2008–09 Indian Railways budget session, Railway MinisterLalu Prasad Yadav unveiled a design to improve the two-century-old Secunderabad Junction station at an estimated cost of₹40 billion (est.$1 billion).[55] In the 2009–10 budget hearing,Mamata Banerjee listed 50 stations (including Secunderabad) to upgrade to world-class facilities. According to the Rail Ministry, the upgrade would be similar toRoma Termini (Rome's central rail station).[56] Chief MinisterY.S. Rajasekhara Reddy proposed developing the Gandhi Hospital land adjoining the station along the lines ofToronto's Union Station, which was developed into a major commuterterminus, a commercial hub and a parking facility.[57]
Similar to an airport, the proposed station would have a shopping mall, a food plaza, entertainment andrecreation centres. The plan includesvertical expansion[12] of the station, with platforms on several floors connected by escalators and lifts. Separation of arriving and departing commuters and integration of the proposedintegrated bus terminus (IBT) andmetro service will be key ingredients of the upgrade. The station's current security apparatus might be overhauled. Lighting, seating areas, waiting rooms, bathrooms and Internet kiosks would be upgraded.[58]
Since about 170,000 passengers commute through Secunderabad on 229 trains daily, the project needs to be developed with an eye to the next century;[59] Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee concurred in June 2009, when she presented the maiden 2009–10 Rail Budget.[60]Preservationists fear that the massive upgrade may leave the heritage building a memory of a bygone era, since₹85 million has already been spent on station improvements.[61]
A series of meetings was convened with Railway Board authorities in July 2009. It was decided to hire a consultant to sketch a master plan for the project, including facilities to be incorporated, a time frame and estimated cost. Global tenders for consultants were issued on 26 September,[59] and the successful bidder (who would have ten months to propose a master plan) would be selected on 30 October.[62] Therequest for tender deadline was extended to 24 December and then indefinitely, due to a lack of bidders.[63]
The Secunderabad Railway Station, a pivotal node in theIndian Railways network, is undergoing extensive modernisation as part of the Ministry of Railways' ambitiousAmrit Bharat Station Scheme. This scheme, formulated on the back of the insights and recommendations from a high-level committee, aims to address the practical difficulties experienced with the Manual of Standards and Specifications for Railway Stations (MSSR 2009) issued in June 2009.[64] The committee's mandate included reviewing and updating the MSSR 2009, devising measures for optimising the redevelopment costs of stations, and establishing norms for the scale of facilities to be provided at redeveloped stations.
Under the umbrella of the Indian Railways' Major Upgradation initiative, the redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station is one of the key projects identified.[65] With a budget allocation of Rs. 720 crores, the project seeks to transform the station into an iconic structure that provides world-class amenities. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, laid the foundation stone for this monumental redevelopment on 8 April 2023, signifying the start of a project that aims to culminate by the end of 2025.[66]
The redevelopment project boasts several salient features aimed at enhancing the travel experience:
First line in the sub-heading '69 special trains'
7th line in sub-heading-Operational convenience
Observe the position of the Secunderabad Station
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