Rs 60 crore push to upgrade goods sheds in Guntur division

Guntur: Riding on strong freight earnings in 2025-26, Guntur Railway Division has launched a ₹60-crore plan to modernise seven major goods sheds to boost cargo handling and attract more freight traffic.The identified sheds are Guntur-Reddipalem, Nallapadu, Vemuru, Markapuram Road, Satulur, Nandyal and Nadikudi. Officials said the upgrades will meet rising demand from industries, agri markets and traders.Guntur-Reddipalem, one of the busiest terminals, has been allocated ₹15.67 crore. Vemuru will get ₹11.19 crore and Markapuram Road ₹11.09 crore. Works worth ₹10.23 crore are planned for Satulur, ₹6.77 crore for Nallapadu and ₹4.09 crore for Nadikudi, while funds are also proposed for Nandyal.The works include cement-concrete approach roads, internal roads, truck parking, drainage, high-mast lighting, compound walls, admin buildings, rest rooms, drinking water and upgraded loading platforms. The improvements are expected to cut turnaround time and improve ease of operations.The move follows robust freight growth. The division posted earnings of ₹766.57 crore in 2025-26, with freight contributing over ₹450 crore. Cement, fertilisers, food grains, industrial raw material and agri produce drove volumes.Officials said the modernisation will strengthen freight operations, improve logistics facilities and encourage a shift of bulk cargo from road to rail, reinforcing Guntur’s role as a key freight hub.