South Central Railway short of cash for Godavari mela

Rajahmundry: The South Central Railway general manager P.K. Srivastava has said that they are running short of funds required to take up large-scale works for the ensuing Godavari Kumbha Mela. He said works would be taken with the available funds to avoid any inconvenience to visiting pilgrims.

The SCR GM arrived here on Wednesday to review the arrangements to be made for the event where thousands of pilgrims from across the country are expected. A series of proposals were submitted to him earlier by Rajahmundry MP Murali Mohan and other public representatives from the Godavari districts to develop additional platforms, provide a foot-over-bridge, an escalator and other amenities at Rajahmundry railway station. Facelifts for Godavari and Kovvur railway stations were also sought to accommodate the pilgrims.
Mr Srivastava said, “If the state government releases some funds it will help us take up some more works.”

The GM said they were taking requisite measures to enhance protection to rail passengers, especially women. He said that with regards to the MMTS Hyderabad, they would be increasing the number of women police personnel in Nirbhaya Squad. The GM assured development of RCRB and Havelock Bridge.
We require additional funds to take up development of additional platforms and FOB at the local railway station.”

The legislators, Gorantla Buchaiah Choudhary and Dr Akula Satyanarayana asked the GM to take up development works at the railway stations on a permanent basis for the mega event. They asked him to take up repair works on the rail-cum-road-bridge to make it motor worthy and also develop Havelock Bridge as a tourism centre.

The GM told newsmen that they were taking up all the requisite measures to enhance protection to rail passengers, especially women during their journey and added that with regard to MMTS in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, they would be enhancing the number of women police personnel in Nirbhaya Squad. The GM assured development of RCRB and Havelock Bridge.