Guntur–Guntakal section
Schematic diagram showing Nallapadu–Nandyal_section of Guntur Railway Division
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Andhra Pradesh
Termini	Nallapadu Nandyal
Service
Operator(s)	South Central Railway
Technical
Line length	256.91 km (159.64 mi)
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	Yes, 25 kV AC 50 Hz
Route map km Pagidipalli–Nallapadu section 0 Nallapadu 6 Pecherla 11 Vemuluripadu 16 Phirangipuram 23 Nudurupadu 29 Satlur 40 Narsaraopet 48 Munumaka 56 Santamagulur 60 Vellacheruvu Halt 68 Savalyapuram 78 Vinukonda 85 Cheekategalapalem 91 Gundalakamma 102 Kurichedu 109 Potlapadu 115 Donakonda 126 Gajjelakonda 139 Markapaur Road 151 Tarulupadu 165 Cumbum 172 Jaggambota Krishnapuram 184 Somdevipallle 188 Gudimetta 199 Giddalur 210 Diguvametta 227 Chelama 238 Gazulapalli 245 Nandipalli 252 Nandyal Nandyal–Yerraguntla section Guntakal–Nandyal section km

Nallapadu–Nandyal section connects Nallapadu and Nandyal of Guntur district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Further, this section converges with Nallapadu–Pagidipalli section at Nallapadu. The branch line is an electrified single-track railway.^[1][2]

Meter Gauge & Broad Gauge Era

Nallapadu–Nandyal section was constructed as a Meter Gauge railway line in 1891/92 by the British. The Magnificent Dorabhavi Viaduct used to span in the Nallamalla Range. The Viaduct 1,024 metres (3,360 ft) long spanning over 8 high pillars around 125 metres (410 ft) was an architectural & engineering wonder. The Viaduct was dismantled after the Guntur Junction–Guntakal Junction section was made Broad Gauge in 1997/98. The 1,350 metres (4,430 ft) long Bogada Tunnel & 1,250 metres (4,100 ft) long Chellama Tunnel in the Meter Gauge alignment were sealed in 1997/98 & a new 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) long Bogada Tunnel & 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) long Chellama Tunnel were constructed in 1997/98 in the Broad Gauge line. Guntur Junction–Guntakal Junction section is 401 kilometres (249 mi) long & currently doubling of Nandyal & Guntakal is going on.

Important trains

Vijayawada-Hubballi Amravathi Express, Shalimar(near Howrah)-Vasco Da Gama(nearMadgaon) Amravathi Express, Bhubaneswar-Bengaluru Prasanti Express are the legendary trains in this route. Vijayawada-Hubballi Amravathi Express & Bhubaneswar-Bengaluru(ErstwhileVijayawada-Bangalore) Prasanti Express were previously Meter Gauge era trains, later re-introduced in Broad Gauge post gauge conversion in 1997/98. Amravathi Express was extended to Howrah on 2008. Recently Howrah-Satya Sai Express & Kondaveedu Express Train are also heavy demand trains in this route.

Jurisdiction

This branch line is having a length of 256.9 km (159.6 mi) and is administered under Guntur railway division of South Central Railway zone.^[1][3]

References