Secunderabad Railway Station, a pivotal landmark in Hyderabad’s history, traces its roots back to the visionary efforts of the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Siddiqi.
In 1870, the Nizam ordered the construction of the station and the establishment of the Secunderabad–Wadi railway line under the private entity Nizam’s Guaranteed State Railway (NGSR). This initiative aimed to connect Hyderabad State with the Great Indian Peninsula Railway’s mainline at Wadi Junction, marking the advent of railways in the region.
Completed on October 9, 1874, Secunderabad Railway Station was introduced alongside the Secunderabad–Wadi line, revolutionizing transportation in Hyderabad. The station’s architecture, resembling a fort and inspired by Nizam-era design, quickly became a tourist attraction in the twin cities. In 1879, Hyderabad State took control of the railway.
The following years saw rapid development. In 1871, the station connected to the Singareni Collieries through a 146-mile line, facilitating industrial growth. By 1889, the Secunderabad–Wadi line extended to Vijayawada Junction, further connecting Hyderabad to Chennai (then Madras) via a broad-gauge railway.
In 1900, the Hyderabad–Godavari Valley Railway opened the Manmad–Secunderabad metre-gauge line, which merged into the NGSR by 1930. The iconic Kachiguda Railway Station was established in 1916 as NGSR headquarters to manage traffic at Secunderabad. Advancing technology, NGSR introduced diesel rail cars manufactured by Ganz in 1939.
A new era began on November 5, 1951, when Nizam’s Guaranteed State Railway was nationalized and integrated into Indian Railways under the Government of India. Today, Secunderabad Railway Station stands as a testament to Hyderabad’s rich heritage, connecting the past to the present while remaining an integral part of the region’s infrastructure.
