Mumbai, July 7 -- Kacheguda Railway Station has completed 110 years of public service, marking a significant milestone in Hyderabad's transport history. The station was inaugurated on June 10, 1916, during the reign of Mir Osman Ali Khan and was originally built as the headquarters of the Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway. Renowned for its distinctive Gothic-style architecture, the facility features majestic domes and minarets and is recognised as a heritage structure.
Despite ongoing modernisation, South Central Railway (SCR) authorities have ensured that the station's historic character remains intact. The station is one of the city's four major railway terminals and serves as the headquarters of the Hyderabad Division of SCR. It handles services to major destinations including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Tirupati, Mysuru, Indore, Bhopal, Madurai, Mangaluru and Nanded.
Kacheguda has emerged as a model for sustainable infrastructure, receiving Green Platinum and other awards for solar energy and energy conservation. Equipped with solar power systems, it generates substantial energy savings while catering to around 50,000 passengers daily and contributing nearly Rs 6 million (mn) in revenue to SCR every day. The facility has five platforms, modern passenger amenities, a miniature rail museum and plans for further infrastructure development.
The Kacheguda Rail Museum, located within the station precincts, attracts children, railway enthusiasts and history lovers and was originally established in 2015 and revamped in 2024. Managed by SCR, the museum displays archival photographs, vintage signalling equipment, old railway tickets, locomotive models and colonial-era artefacts, with a major attraction being the steam locomotive Sir Alec, built in 1907. An air-conditioned audio-visual gallery presents the history, development and safety systems of Indian Railways and two heritage metre-gauge coaches on display further enhance the visitor experience. The station continues to blend its heritage identity with contemporary railway operations and sustainability practices.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.