The central government classifies railway stations across India into various categories based on passenger traffic and the facilities provided. Stations with an annual revenue of over Rs 500 crore or handling over 20 million passengers annually are given the NSG (Non-Suburban Group 1) designation.
Until now, this status was reserved for top railway stations in state capitals like Delhi, but Vijayawada Railway Station has recently joined this elite list. The central government has awarded Vijayawada Railway Station the NSG 1 status, making it the only station in Andhra Pradesh to receive this recognition.
Vijayawada Railway Station has been striving for the NSG 1 designation for many years and narrowly missed it in 2017-18 due to not meeting two criteria. However, in the latest 2023-24 Railway Board review, the station secured the NSG 1 status with an annual revenue of Rs 528 crore and approximately 16.84 million passengers using the station in 2023-24.
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With this new recognition, Vijayawada Railway Station joins the elite group of the top 28 stations in the country. It is the only station in the South Central Railway zone, besides Secunderabad, to achieve this status.
The station offers modern facilities for passengers, including lifts, ramps, wheelchair services, and emergency medical services. It has also earned recognition as a Divyang-friendly station, with battery-operated car services available for passengers with disabilities.
With the NSG 1 status, the central government plans to allocate additional funds to further enhance facilities, aiming to upgrade the station to the level of an airport. An increase in train operations is also expected, leading to higher revenue and benefiting workers and small businesses that rely on the station.
