Vijayawada: Key railay projects linking coast to Seema get budget boost

Vijayawada: Indian Railways has allocated funds for some important projects in Vijayawada and Guntur divisions to increase connectivity between coastal districts and Rayalaseema. Allocation were made in the Budget presented in Parliament.

As much as Rs 664 crore was allotted for Vijayawada- Gudur third line project. The third line project was sanctioned in the year 2015-16 for a distance of 288 km at an estimated cost of Rs 3246 crore. Work on the project was taken up in three phases between Gudur-Bitragunta, Kovvuru Bitragunta and Krishna Canal- Kovvuru simultaneously.

The third railway line will increase connectivity between Vijayawda-Gudur in Nellore district. People of Rayalaseema districts can reach Nellore and can catch trains to Vijayawada. Being located on Chennai-Howrah line, more than 100 trains pass via Vijayawada and Nellore. The third line will be very useful to connect the coastal districts with Rayalaseema. Moreover, the Railway inaugurated s new line between Venkatachalam in Nellore district and Obulavaripalle in Kadapa district for supply of iron ore. The 90-km line was built for only freight services. But there is a possibility of running some passenger trains in future between the two destinations so that the people of Rayalaseema can reach Nellore to catch other trains. If the administrative capital is shifted to Visakhapatnam, people of Rayalaseema may face many difficulties to travel to Vizag. So, there will be demand for more trains.

The railways allocated Rs 1158 crore for Vijayawada- Gudivada/ Machilipatnam-Bhimavaram/ Narsapur–Nidadavolu doubling and electrification. The project was sanctioned in 2011-12 for a distance of 221 km at an estimated cost of Rs 1,429 crore. The project was taken on cost sharing bais between the State government and the railways. The section between Moturu -Bhimavaram for a distance of 56 Km was already completed and commissioned. The works on the Uppaluru-Moturu section are nearing completion and the works on the remaining sections are in progress, according to press release made by SC Railway.

The railways allocated funds for another important project in Vijayawada division. According to information, as much as Rs 551 crore allotted for Kotipalli–Narsapur new line project. The project was sanctioned in t 2000-01 for a distance of 57 km at an estimated cost of Rs 2,120 crore. The State government will share 25 per cent of the project cost. The new line works in this section involves construction of important major bridges across Gowthami, Vynatheya and Vashista rivers, which are under progress.

The railways also allocated funds for another important project connecting coastal districts with Rayalaseema. A total of Rs 294 crore were allotted for Guntur- Guntakal doubling project. The doubling project was sanctioned in 2016-17 for a distance of 401 km at an estimated cost of Rs 3,631 crore. If the works are completed, rail connectivity between coastal districts and Rayalaseema will be increased. 

People angry over meagre allocation for project

Rajamahendravaram: The people in Konaseema in East Godavari district are expressing their anger over the meagre allocation of Rs 551 crore in the Budget for Kotipalli-Narasapur railway line. The allocation, though not mentioned in the Budget, figured in the pink book.

Hopes of people that the works on the railway line would be completed by 2021 was shattered because of meagre allocation of funds for the project. The project is a long- cherished dream that remains unfilled for the last 20 years.

So far, as many as 276 acres of land was acquired as against of 908 acres required for the railway line, of 791 acres in East Godavari and 118 acres in West Godavari district.

The 57 km railway line is estimated to cost Rs 2,120 kms and so far, as much as Rs 326 crore was spent.

Out of 57 km railway line. the distance between Narsapur and Chinchinada is 10 kms, between Kotipalli and Amalapuram 12.70 km and Amalapuram and Chinchinada 33.89 km. The South-Central Railway proposed to complete the project in three phases.

Three bridges need to be constructed as part of Kotipalli-Narsapur railway line across the rivers, Gowthami, Vynateya and Vasishta. Though the contract for work on the bridge across Gowthami was given in 2017, across Vynateya and Vasista in 2018, the works are going at snail's pace.

In 2015 Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to speed up all pending railway projects in the country and in 2016-2017, Rs 184.64 crore was allotted to Kotipalli- Narsapur railway line.

The railway line, when completed, will help transport Rs 500 crore worth of products. Oil and gas production is a major activity in the region.

With the initiative of former Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi, the project was launched. Former Union Minister for Railways Mamatha Banerjee laid foundation stone for the project 25 years ago