Rail users urge SCR to develop North Lalaguda for stabling and maintenance

Residents and rail users in Hyderabad have urged the Railways to develop the underutilised land at North Lalaguda into a modern coaching complex. With Kacheguda station offering limited stabling space, trains are being moved to far-off locations, raising costs and congestion.

Hyderabad: The vast stretches of underutilised railway land at North Lalaguda are drawing renewed attention, with residents and rail users now calling for the area to be transformed into a modern coaching complex to meet Hyderabad Division’s expanding operational requirements.

Residents have been requesting the railway administration to develop North Lalaguda as a dedicated facility for the stabling, watering, cleaning, train lighting and minor maintenance of passenger coaches.

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At present, Hyderabad Division has only one coaching terminal at Kacheguda railway station, with just five platforms. In contrast, Secunderabad Division has four coaching terminals within the city including Secunderabad Junction railway station, Hyderabad Deccan railway station, Lingampalli railway station, and Charlapalli railway terminal, providing much greater operational flexibility.

Due to the lack of adequate stabling space at Kacheguda, several trains are presently being moved to distant locations such as Shadnagar railway station, Umdanagar railway station, Nagulapalli railway station and Medchal railway station for stabling.

These locations are nearly 30 to 60 km away, resulting in unnecessary empty coaching movements, increased fuel and energy consumption, higher operating costs and avoidable congestion on busy railway routes.

Many of the old railway quarters constructed during the Nizam’s Guaranteed State Railway era are now in a dilapidated condition, leaving them vulnerable to encroachment and anti-social activities. This land presents an excellent opportunity for railway infrastructure development.

“We have been seeing these old quarters deteriorate year after year. If the railways develop the land into a proper coaching yard, it will improve the area and bring better security,” said a resident of Mirjalguda.

The Train Travellers Association has suggested that the vacant railway land extending from Sri Ram Mandir towards Mirjalguda be developed into a modern coaching yard with facilities for stabling, watering, cleaning, train lighting and minor maintenance.

“Trains could then be conveniently shunted to Kacheguda or Malkajgiri as required, substantially improving operational efficiency,” said Noor Ahmed Ali, General Secretary of the association.

The association recommended providing two or three additional passenger platforms at Malkajgiri to enhance passenger convenience and strengthen Hyderabad Division’s terminal capacity.

Noor further said developing North Lalaguda as a comprehensive coaching complex would eliminate the need to search for costly new land at distant locations for future terminal development. This would be a practical, economical and long-term solution that would significantly improve train operations.