Transport in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is well connected to other states with road, rail. It is also connected to other countries by means airways and seaports as well. With a long seacoast along the Bay of Bengal, it also has many ports for sea trade. The state has one of the largest railway junctions at Vijayawada and one of the largest seaport at Visakhapatnam.

Road transport and highways

Mercedez Benz bus of APSRTC

Toll gate on Hyderabad - Vijayawada National Highway 9

Andhra Pradesh has an extensive road network of 146,954 km (91,313 mi) with 42,511 km (26,415 mi) of State Highways, 3,144 km (1,954 mi)^[1] of National Highways (India) and 101,484 km (63,059 mi) of District Roads. Andhra Pradesh Road Development Corporation (APRDC), (established 1998) is responsible for Maintenance and Management of roads.^[2]

National Highways and state highways connects to every village and town within the state, as well as to major cities of neighboring states. National Highway 5, with a highway network of around 1,000 km (620 mi) runs from Srikakulam district to Nellore district. It is also a part of Golden Quadrilateral Project undertaken by National Highways Development Project and also forms part of AH 45 under the Asian Highway Network.^[3]

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates public bus services in the state owned by the state government. It operates thousands of buses connecting different parts of the state even to small villages due to presence of huge network of roads.^[4] Pandit Nehru Bus Station in Vijayawada is the largest bus terminus in the state.^[5] Besides APSRTC, there are thousands of private buses that connect major cities and towns of Andhra Pradesh.

National Highways that pass through Andhra Pradesh include NH 4, NH 5, NH 7, NH 9, NH 18, NH 18A, NH 43, NH 63, NH 205, NH 214, NH 214A, NH 219, NH 221, NH 234. State highways include SH 2, SH 188. In the cities and adjoining villages, auto-rickshaws serve the requirements of the local transport.

Railways

Loco shed at Visakhapatnam railway station

Vijayawada Junction is the busiest junction of South Central Railway

Andhra Pradesh has a railway network of 4,403 km (2,736 mi) with many express trains and passengers serving the state population. They have played a significant role in boosting the economy of the state alongside developing the industrial and the tourism sectors. One of the highest broad gauge tracks in the world is in eastern ghats route that runs from Visakhapatnam to Anantagiri.^[6] Most of Andhra Pradesh falls under South Central Railway zone with Vijayawada, Guntur and Guntakal divisions. The north coastal districts of Srikakulam district, Vizianagaram district and Visakhapatnam district are under Waltair Railway division of East Coast Railway zone.

Waltair Railway Division under ECoR zone, is the fourth largest revenue earning division in India.^[7] Vijayawada railway station is the highest grosser in the SCR zone and one of busiest railway junctions in India. The revenue generated from the railways divisions in the state is mainly due to tourist places of religious importance like Tirupati, Srisailametc., also minerals exports of iron ore, barytes, lime stone etc. The commercial, industrial and port activities too generate income.^[8]

The Howrah-Chennai main line section that passes through the state is an important line connecting the stations of eastern and southern cities of India. It passes through Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Ongole and Nellore. Major express trains of the state include Andhra Pradesh Express, Andhra Pradesh Sampark Kranti Express, Godavari Express, Krishna Express, Pinakini Express, Satavahana Express, Simhapuri Express, Vijayawada-Chennai Central Jan Shatabdi etc.

Airports

Air India and Jet Airways at Tirupati Airport

The state has a customs airport at Visakhapatnam. It serves more than 1 million passengers annually.^[9] It operates flights to Singapore, Sharjah and domestic services as well. There are five domestic airports at Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Puttaparthi, Kadapa, Tirupati. Vijayawada Airport is the hub of Indian regional airliner Air Costa. There are plans to develop International airports and also to set up few more domestic airports at other important towns.^[10]

Seaports

Visakhapatnam Port

Andhra Pradesh has the second longest coastline of 972 km (604 mi) after Gujarat in India.^[11] Visakhapatnam, the largest port in the state is also one of the largest port in terms of handling cargo in the country.^[12] There is a passenger service of cruise from Visakhapatnam to Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands).

Other important ports are Krishnapatnam Port (Nellore district), Gangavaram Port is another largest port in Visakhapatnam and Kakinada Port. Gangavaram Port is a deep seaport which can accommodate ocean liners up to 200,000–250,000 DWT.^[13] Andhra Pradesh ports authority is developing other minor ports in the PPP mode.^[14]

References

1. "Infrastructure" (PDF). Government of AP. p. 57. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
2. "Road development authority". AP Road Develeopment Corporation. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
3. "Golden Quadrilateral project". Roadtraffic Technology. Retrieved 14 Jun 2014.
4. "Andhra Pradesh Transport department". apsrtc. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
5. "citi-Charter". Apsrtc.gov.in. Archived from the original on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
6. "Rail Network". Retrieved 2 April 2014.
7. "Waltair division earnings". The Hindu. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
8. "Guntakal division overview". Portal of Indian Railways. South Central Railway. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
9. "Vizag Airport Info". Hindubuisnessline. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
10. "Airports" (pdf). AP State Portal. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
11. "AP coastline". aponline.gov.in. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
12. "Vizag port info". vizagport. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
13. "Capacity of port". gangavaram port. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
14. "Section VI Sector-wise Private Participation – Status and Issues". rbi.org.in. Retrieved 9 June 2014.