-----INFORMATION ON KACHEGUDA RAILWAY STATION FOR REGULAR/FIRST TIME/TRANSIT TRAVELLERS------
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History: Kacheguda railway station(In Hyderabad city) was constructed in the year 1916 as the headquarters of the Godavari river valley railway, a part of the Nizam’s guaranteed state railway. The station looks like a palatial building with minarets and domes, built in Indo-Gothic style architecture reflecting the Nizam’s taste for Art. This acted as a midpoint for the DHNE-KCG-SC-NZB-NED stretch which was MG, this was the only station in Hyderabad city to be completely in MG. Gauge conversion was completed in 90’s on...
more... the KCG-DHNE stretch and by 2004 on the NZB stretch, trains began running on the Chord line between STPD-MJF around 2008 after it was declared open for passenger traffic. Initially trains towards NZB used to ply through Chord line bypassing secunderabad following which KSK and Mysore-Jaipur began, the other trains followed suit soon.
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The station looks beautiful in the evenings with local Muslims bringing bags of grains and scattering for the pigeons. It’s an amazing sight to watch all the pigeons swoop down from the station building to feed on the grains. Similar is the case with Hyderabad and necklace road stations where local Masjid youth and parsi’s contribute and feed all pigeons with grains everyday.
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What is the chord line??
Trains coming from Gooty/Guntakal via Kurnool town had to undergo a reversal at Secunderabad Junction if headed towards Kazipet/Ballarshah. To avoid this the existing Triangle chord line between Sitaphalmandi (station right before SC on KCG-SC stretch) and Malkajgiri (second station on the SC-NZB stretch) was put to optimal use, this chord line is right before Secunderabad station but avoids reversal. Once in the SC-NZB mainline, trains deviate to the right after Malkajgiri station(right before Dayanand Nagar Stn) to travel further and join the SC-KZJ-BPQ mainline after Moula-Ali station. This chord avoids delay of waiting outside Secunderabad station for platforms, stoppage and reversal time, departure delay and loco change from diesel to electric happens at KCG.
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Information on the station: The station lies on the MBNR-SC stretch of the DHNE-SC Branch Line, this is technically not a junction however STPD (sitaphalmandi-5 kms away) acts as interlocking point for Chord line trains. Kacheguda is one of the oldest stations of SCR with bridges on either ends.
KCG station has 5 platforms in all, the fifth platform is not in use yet from either ends. Platform-4 is usually used for stabling rakes and for originating DEMU’s and passengers towards NZB/NED. Platform-3 is the most important platform of the station as all the overnight long distance trains originating and terminating from KCG are operated from this platform including KCG-MS/SBC/CTO/YPR and a few passenger trains towards KRNT/GTL. Platform 2 is the mainline for trains towards Falaknuma(FM) and all FM bound MMTS trains are operated from this platform, long distance train and trains having a loco change in KCG heading towards DHNE are allotted this platform (a few of them are KCG-GNT pass,KSK,Wainganga,Kongu etc). Finally, Platform-1 is the mainline for trains towards SCJN and is also allotted for all passing through trains of KCG or trains stopping for Loco change from Diesel to electric. It looks good to see MMTS trains coming in and pulling out of the station with speeds reaching upto 50 in the station itself. Beyond PF-5 are the stabling lines and the coaching depot.
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KCG station has one major exit towards PF-1 (another towards SCJN end) which is accessible through two FOB’s from Platform 2/3 while Platforms-4/5 are connected to only one FOB. The station is a very small and neat place with most of the trains coming from Bangalore to Hyderabad passing through or terminating here, it’s basically the yesvantapur of Hyderabad city.
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Food and beverages are available on all platforms and do not taste great, the hyderabadi biryani sold in the platforms does not taste one bit of the actual hyderabadi biryani, so buying that with a hope of tasting hyderabadi biryani would be a bad idea however, food sold by canteen near FOB on PF-1 and by vendors is okay and hygienic if not too tasty. Unlike Secunderabad you won’t get good food outside KCG since most of the trains are Daily overnight expresses and people prefer to make their own arrangements, you can try Narmada Rasoi or Bawarchi near RTC cross roads but both of them would take around 44 mins to 1 hour(including travel and dining), might be an option for transit passengers.
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Connectivity inside the station: MMTS trains towards Secunderabad/Lingampalli/Hyderabad and DEMU/Pass trains towards Malkajgiri/Bolarum/Medchal arrive and depart from Platform-1 while local trains to Falaknuma depart from PF-2 and rarely PF-3 incase PF-2 is occupied by KSK or some passenger. Ticket counter is at the left of the main exit in station terminal building with more than 4 counters and ATVM machines. Reservation complex is right outside the station.
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Connectivity outside the station: Bus connectivity is not too good from kachiguda atleast when compared to secunderabad and Hyderabad. Following are the bus routes:
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Towards Dilsukhnagar: 100VK and 99K will take you towards Dilsukhnagar,L.B nagar, Panama, Vanasthalipuram, Red Tank and NGO’s Colony.
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Towards Secunderabad(Rathifile): All buses of 2 series go to secunderabad via RTC X roads, Padmarao nagar, Gandhi hospital
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Towards Charminar: 2 and 2V go to charminar via Afzal Gunj, the other 2 series won’t go to charminar only,ask before boarding.
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Towards Khairtabad,Kukatpally,Lingampalli: 83,83J, go to Lakdi-ka-pul, Khairtabad, Panjagutta, Ameerpet, Sanath Nagar and jeedimetla. 218 is a direct connectivity to Kukatpally, KPHB, JNTU, Miyapur,lingampalli and patancheru(follows same route as 83 till sanathnagar, moosapet)
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During the arrival of SBC/YPR-KCG expresses most of the buses of Bharkatpura(BKP) depot scheduled to begin from Koti, start their morning services from KCG to facilitate easy city transportation for passengers, similar is the case for MS/CTO-KCG. However passengers arriving by passing through trains like KSK,Wainganga etc may have to take an MMTS, Auto or a cconnecting bus to a major bus stand to travel to desired location.
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I hope this would help you to reach and travel in Kacheguda, any queries or any deviation from what’s mentioned here when you visit can kindly be directed to me so that I can keep this post updated at all times.
THANKS FOR READING…
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Thanks to Member #49781 for updates on bus routes from KCG!
