V. Somanna Flags Off Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express

Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, Shri V. Somanna, flagged off the Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express through video conferencing from Rail Bhawan, New Delhi on 9 December 2025.

Key Highlights
- First direct train connecting Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) and Shirdi (Maharashtra), two of India’s most prominent pilgrimage destinations.
- Strengthens connectivity across four states: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
- Weekly service with a travel time of ~30 hours each way.
- Stops at 31 important stations, including Nellore, Guntur, Secunderabad, Bidar, Manmad, and Parli Vaijnath (a major Shiva temple).

Benefits
- Boosts pilgrimage tourism by offering seamless travel for devotees.
- Promotes economic activity and regional development along the route.
- Provides a safe, comfortable, and hassle-free travel option for interstate passengers.
- Enhances cultural connectivity, reinforcing Indian Railways’ role as the “lifeline of the country.”

Infrastructure Growth in Andhra Pradesh
- Rail budget allocation for AP & Telangana rose from ₹886 crore (2009–14) to ₹9,417 crore (2025–26).
- Ongoing projects worth ₹93,000 crore, including new tracks, electrification, flyovers, bridges, lifts, escalators, and modern train services like Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat.
- Major works in Tirupati:
- Tirupati Amrit Station (₹312 crore).
- Tirupati–Pakala–Katpadi doubling (₹1,215 crore).
- Gudur–Renigunta 3rd line (₹875 crore).
- Nadikudi–Srikalahasti new line (₹5,900 crore).

This launch is being hailed as a historic day for devotees across four states, making spiritual journeys more accessible while fueling regional growth.