Modernisation works to begin soon

Tirupati: South Central Railway (SCR) General Manager (GM) Vinod Kumar Yadav held discussions with officials concerned here on Thursday, over the proposed redevelopment of Tirupati railway station to make it a world class. Tirupati MP V Varaprasad has participated in the deliberations along with Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) and National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) officials.

The officials explained the MP about the proposed plans of redevelopment of railway station at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore through power point presentation. The plans include the development proposals both at southern and northern side on a massive scale which gives the station an international look.

Speaking after the meeting, the MP has praised the SCR GM for his dynamism in taking the development works on a fast track basis. Development of Tirupati railway station was doing rounds for over 30 years and nothing was done so far. It was only after the present GM took over the proposals, the works have gained momentum, the MP observed. He gave due credit to the former Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu also in this regard.

“During my first three years as MP I did not see any development plans. Now, the situation has changed considerably,” he stated. After seeing the power point presentation, the MP was of the view that once completed according to the proposed plans, Tirupati railway station would resembles that of London station. It will be far better than Secunderabad railway station.

He even praised the efforts of officials to complete the RUB at Rayala Cheruvu gate saying, “On behalf of five lakh population of Tirupati I express my thanks to the GM for his initiative in this regard”. Vinod Kumar said that the total area that will be developed will be about six lakh square feet and investment would be around Rs 500 crore.

This investment will be generated by both RLDA and NBCC by taking out the commercial development of air space and some extra area. The development includes budget hotels, star hotels, parking facilities, restaurants etc. In all, about 800 cars can be accommodated in the parking space.

Discussions were held with civic authorities for providing approach roads and other amenities. After these were finalised and tied up with local authorities, the concept will be presented before Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu soon, the GM revealed.

Tenders will be invited within a month and once they are finalised works have to be completed within 36 months, he said. Vice-Chairman of RLDA Rakesh Goyal, GM of NBCC MK Chawla, PCCM Gunasekhar, DRM Vijay Prathap Singh, Sr DCM Rakesh, Station Director K Satyanarayana, Station Manager M Subodh Mithra and others were present.