Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has urged Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to create a new railway division with headquarters at Kazipet in Telangana, citing rising operational strain on the Secunderabad division.In a letter on Wednesday, KTR pointed out that ongoing restructuring in South Central Railway and the operationalisation of South Coast Railway has placed burden on Secunderabad railway division. “The Secunderabad division currently spans 2,755 track km, which is expected to increase to about 3,150 track km with new double-line sections. This far exceeds the optimal administrative range across Indian Railways divisions,” he said.Drawing comparisons, he noted that divisions like Vijayawada and Guntakal handle around 2,200 track km, while Guntur operates under 900 km. “This stark imbalance makes Secunderabad an outlier in size, complexity and traffic density,” KTR said.Pitching Kazipet as a viable alternative, he said the proposed division would cover key high-density sections including Kazipet–Balharshah, Peddapalli–Nizamabad, Kazipet–Yerrupalem, Dornakal–Manuguru, Motumari–Vishnupuram and Kazipet–Wangapalli. “These routes together form a coherent network of 1,500–2,000 track km, aligning well with established divisional norms,” he added.KTR also sought a review of redistribution proposals. “The transfer of the Peddapalli–Nizamabad section to Hyderabad division should be withdrawn and reassigned to Kazipet for better geographical and operational continuity,” he said, adding that the proposed shift of the Latur Road–Parli Vaijnath section to Nanded division should also be reconsidered.Highlighting Kazipet’s strategic importance, KTR said it sits at the junction of major trunk routes and has seen rapid infrastructure growth, including triple lines towards Balharshah and Vijayawada, and a sanctioned quadruple line between Secunderabad and Kazipet.“The establishment of a railway manufacturing unit, along with ROH shed and locomotive facilities nearby, further strengthens Kazipet’s case as a key rail hub,” he said.
