Hyderabad: With the Telugu Desam being an ally of Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, expectations have gone up over the share of railway projects Andhra Pradesh is going to get this time.
The Union Railway minister will be presenting the Railway Budget on July 8. “It was a case of injustice to undivided Andhra Pradesh in the last 10 years of the Congress rule in AP and at the Centre. The undivided AP did not get its due share in Railway Budgets for a decade. But this time, we are expecting the situation will be comparatively better,” said a senior TD leader.
On its part, the AP government has sought Rs 12,000 crore worth funding-cum-railway projects for the residuary state.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is keen on improving the rail connectivity to the ports and to the towns having power generating stations. The Chief Minister is particularly interested in rail connectivity to the Rayalaseema for the development of this region.
Mr Naidu submitted a long list of projects to the Centre during his visit to the Delhi on June 26.
This list is in addition to the central government proposed setting up of a new railway zone for AP. Social welfare minister Mr. R. Kishore Babu who was a part of preparing the Rs 12,000 crore rail projects list and who accompanied Naidu to Delhi, told this correspondent that government has big plans to make Andhra Pradesh into a major logistics hub and an integrated transport system having inter-connectivity between rail, road, air and water ways was crucial to propel economic development.
The minister said Rs 12,000 crore rail projects were finalised and the central government was urged torelease the money in the ensuing railway and union budgets respectively.
Railway projects
New line between Nandyal-Yerraguntla: An additional Rs 100 crore being sought in the regular budget for 2014-15.
New line between Nadikudi-Srikalahasti (Phase-I from Piduguralla to Rompicherla and Phase-II between Rompicherla and Savalyapuram): Rs 50 crore in regular budget for 2014-15.
New line between Kotipalli-Narsapur: Rs 100 crore in regular budget for land acquisition process in 2014-15.
New line between Kadapa-Bangarupeta: (Phase-II from Pendlimarri-Rayachoti stations, and Phase-III between Rayachoti-Vayalpadu stations): Rs 200 crore in regular budget for 2014-15.
New line between Kakinada and Pithapuram: Rs 25 crore in regular budget in 2014-15.
Seek Centre’s approval for doubling line between Guntur-Guntakal and Gooty-Dharmavaram in view of state bifurcation. To seek sanction survey work between Narsapur-Macherla so as to have alternate route between connecting ports and main line of Chennai.
Speed up port connectivity between Obulavaripalle and Venkatayapalem (Krishnapatnam Port) as the work by RVNL agency is progressing at snail’s pace. It has to be completed in one year.
