Hyderabad: A lack of effective coordination between the railway authorities and the TS government is holding back the move for new railway terminals in Greater Hyderabad that could reduce functional hitches and congestion at the existing three railway stations — Secunderabad, Hyderabad (Nampally) and Kacheguda.
Experts stress that two terminals are urgently needed — one to cater to the expanding city towards the west, i.e., Hitec City, Madhapur and Gachibowli, covering most parts of Cyberabad; and another near Malkajgiri, Moula Ali and Kapra to meet the rail requirements of this part of the city.
Though a modern and big railway terminal on the lines of Secunderabad railway station was planned at Hitec City during the tenure of Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, it has failed to take off.
The cost of the land is too high in Hitec city, that stood in the way of implementation of the plan.
Another huge terminal was planned by way of upgrading Moula Ali railway station. However, it failed to take off. Due to narrow roads and lack of proper approach roads to this station, the proposal to develop Moula Ali as a big terminal has been set aside. “It could still be an option, if no other place is available,” railway officials said.
Lack of coordination between SCR authorities and the TS government is seen as the main reason for the plans remaining on paper. CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao did take an initiative, though, when he urged Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu in January to upgrade Moula Ali and Nagulapalli stations into full-fledged terminals on par with Secunderabad terminals.
This has not happened, and SCR authorities say the state government has not responded to the Railways’ call to allot land for the purpose.
SCR GM Ravindra Gupta has said that he will soon meet the CM and discuss the issue. “The cooperation of the state government is needed especially in providing land to develop new terminals,” he stressed. Over 250 acres of land is expected from the TS government to set up a new terminal with seven to eight platforms. “Cherlapalli and Nagulapalli have been identified by SCR for developing into big terminals if land is allotted,” SCR spokesperson M. Umashankar said.
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