Visakhapatnam railway station

Visakhapatnam Junction railway station (station code: VSKP[1]) is a major railway station located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is administered under South Coast Railway zone.[2] In 2017, as part of Swachh Rail campaign, the Quality Council of India declared Visakhapatnam as the cleanest railway station in the country.[3] The station is a major stop on the Howrah–Chennai main line.For adopting green concepts by reducing the adverse environmental impacts,Vishakapatnam railway station has been awarded Platinum rating by Indian Green Building Council(IGBC)[4].The award is based on efficiency of station in six environmental categories like Sustainable Station Facility;Health,Hygiene and Sanitation;Energy Efficiency;Water Efficiency;Smart Green Initiatives, and Innovation and Development.[5]

Visakhapatnam Junction
Regional rail, Light rail & Goods railway station
Visakhapatnam railway station
Location	Gnanapuram, Railway New Colony, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh-530004  India
Coordinates	17°43′20″N 83°17′23″E
Elevation	5.970 metres (19.59 ft)
Owned by	Indian Railways
Operated by	South Coast Railways
Line(s)	Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section, Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada section, Visakhapatnam–Kirandul line
Platforms	8
Tracks	10
Construction
Structure type	Standard on-ground
Parking	Yes
Disabled access	Available
Other information
Status	Functioning
Station code	VSKP
Zone(s)	South Coast Railway zone
Division(s)	Waltair
Electrified	Yes
Route map km to Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section to Kothavalasa–Kirandul line 24 Kothavalasa 15 Pendurti 8 Simhachalam North 7 Simhachalam 6 Gopalapatnam NH 16 Marshalling yard on right lines 4 Marripalem / Visakhapatnam Airport Naval Dockyard Essar Steel Iron Ore sidings 9 Kottapalem Visakhapatnam Port - Inner harbour 0 Visakhapatnam Hindustan Zinc BHPV NH 16 Coromandel International Visakhapatnam Refinery of HPCL Visakhapatnam port channel in blue Visakhapatnam Port - Inner harbour Hindustan Shipyard Visakhapatnam Port - Outer harbour Dolphin's Nose (hill with lighthouse) Link to Bay of Bengal Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Gangavaram Port 17 Duvvada NH 16 Simhadri STPP of NTPC 27 Thadi NH 16 33 Anakapalle to Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada section
Location
Visakhapatnam Junction Location within Andhra Pradesh Visakhapatnam Junction Visakhapatnam Junction (India)

The city's railway station was originally called Waltair railway station. In around 1987, Mr. D. V. Subbarao, the then mayor of Visakhapatnam, changed the name to Visakhapatnam which is the largest railway station under then east coast railway and A1 category station . Visakhapatnam railway station is administered by the South Coast Railway of Indian Railways which is headquartered in Visakhapatnam and the same was announced on Feb 27 2019 by union railway minister Piyush Goyal Please

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Overview

The station is a terminal station; trains must go back the same way as they come. With many trains arriving at the same time platforms are not always available. In case any train is late, the other trains are stopped at Duvvada or Vizianagaram.[6] The Route Relay Interlocking (RRI) system, an arrangement of signal apparatus that prevents conflicting movements through an arrangement of tracks such as junctions or crossings, is reported to be one of the major causes for these trains being delayed after Duvvada Station.

Over 5,000 people travel between Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad every day. To clear the rush, there are over 18 trains connecting Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad. The Godavari Express, one of the most prestigious trains of the South Central Railway is considered the best way between the cities. However, the rush for the train is too high, that tickets have to be booked before two months from the journey. It was one of the busiest stations when it was part of East Coast Railway zone. On average, every train has a minimum halt period of 20 minutes.[7]

History

During 1893–1896, the 1,287 km (800 mi)-long tracks covering the entire coastal stretch from Cuttack to Vijayawada, was built and opened to traffic by Bengal Nagpur Railway which was later renamed as South Eastern Railway.[8][9]Bengal Nagpur Railway's line to Cuttack was opened on 1 January 1899.[8] The 514 km (319 mi)-long northern portion of the East Coast line to Cuttack, including the branch line to Puri, was taken over by Bengal Nagpur Railway in 1902.[9][10] The southern part was subsequently merged with Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway. East Coast Railway zone of Indian Railways came into existence in its present form with effect from 1 April 2003. The geographical jurisdiction of the railway is however extended over three states encompassing almost all parts of Orissa along with parts of Srikakulam, Vizainagaram and Visakhapatnam districts of North Eastern Andhra Pradesh, and Bastar and Dantewada districts of Chhattisgarh State. As such, these regions with a long coastal line are rich in mineral and other natural resources, and are on the threshold of an industrial upsurge. [11]

Structure and amenities

The station is spread over an area of 103,178 m² (1,110,600 sq ft), maintained by 222 employees.[12] The station has 08 platforms and all the tracks are broad gauge and electrified. Almost all platforms are in same size. The station has East and West terminals equipped with reservation counters and has Inter Modal Transport Facility for Bus Station. It is a wheelchair friendly station where almost all platforms are accessible via ramp on foot overbridge. The station has modern escalators and wifi facilities provided by Railtel and Google.For making an enjoyable experience,particulary for children and to cut down monotony of long waiting periods on railway stations, a fun zone has been set up by the Railways at the Railway station[13].There are various games like video shooting and other indoor games which keeps children and adults entertained while waiting at the platform.The fun zone is first of its kind in the country,built on platform 1,and has all high-tech gaming activities on par with game parlours for adults and children.[14]

Loco sheds

The Diesel Loco Shed at Visakhapatnam, is the largest diesel shed in Indian Railways, with a capacity to accommodate 300 diesel locomotives. While, the Electric Loco Shed is currently holding 231 electric locomotives.

It holds WDM-2 – 57, WDS-6 – 10, WDG-3A – 96 alongside 3 rail busses.

While, the Visakhapatnam Electric Loco Shed can accommodate 297 locomotives which includes WAG-5 – 83, WAP-4 – 21, WAP-7 – 35, WAG-6 – 9, WAG-9 – 172.

See also

• List of railway stations in India

References

1. "Station Code Index" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. 2015. p. 46. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
2. "Statement showing Category-wise No.of stations" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. 28 January 2016. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
3. "Vizag billed the cleanest rail station". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 18 May 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 January 2018.CS1 maint: others (link)
4. "Visakhapatnam railway station gets platinum rating by IGBC". Telangana Today. Telangana Today. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
5. "Visakhapatnam railway station gets platinum rating by IGBC". Telangana Today. Telangana Today. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
6. "`Terminal' injustice". The Hindu. Chennai. 3 June 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
7. "Transportation fails to face festive rush". CityofVizag.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
8. "Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway". South Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
9. "History of Waltair Division". Mannanna.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
10. "History". East Coast Railway. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
11. "East Coast Railway". eastcoastrail.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
12. "Station:Visakhapatnam".
13. "'Fun Zone' for children at Visakhapatnam railway station". Business Standard India. Business Standard. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
14. "'Fun Zone' for children at Visakhapatnam railway station". Business Standard India. Business Standard. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2021.

External links

• Visakhapatnam travel guide from Wikivoyage

Preceding station		Indian Railways		Following station
Marripalem		South Coast Railway zone Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada section of Howrah–Chennai main line		Terminus