Hyderabad: The city will get another terminal at Vattinagulapalli, to be developed under the Public Private Partnership model.
Responding to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s request, the Centre has given the green signal to extend the MMTS up to Yadadri at an estimated cost of Rs 330 crore.
The TS Chief Minister is taking personal interest in development of Yadadri as a major temple-tourist destination and wanted rail connectivity for it.
SCR general manager Ravinder Gupta said it was rare for the railway ministry to approve a project in such a short span of time as it was done in the case of the MMTS extension to Yadadri.
On the instructions of the CM, Hyderabad Metro Rail MD N.V.S. Reddy and his team had completed a preliminary survey and estimate in just two weeks and had prepared the extension plan.
While the MMTS Phase-II is under implementation from Secunderabad to Ghatkesar (21 km), it will be extended from by 32 km from Ghatkesar to Yadadri by laying a third line with attendant electrification, signalling works and new en route MMTS stations at Ghatkesar, Bhongir, Pagidi-palli, Bibinagar and Raigir (Yadadri).
Out of the project cost of Rs 330 crore, Rs 220 crore will be borne by the TS government and one-third will be borne by the Railways. The project cost includes procurement of new MMTS coaches as well.
The rail Budget also saw sanction for periodical overhauling of the Kazipet wagon workshop at a cost of Rs 269 crore. Rs 20 crore has been allotted for this year. The Budget gave Rs 18 crore to augment the Kazipet Locoshed from 125 locomotives to 175. Several pending projects like Macherla-Nalgonda line did not get any significant sanctions.
Consultant sought for Secunderabad
SCR has invited expression of interest from private consultants to develop Secunderabad as a world class station. SCR general manager Ravindra Gupta said the consultants have to propose world class facilities, which would be approved by the railways.
The Nampally and Kacheguda stations would be re-developed as world class facilities. He said the railway ministry 36 of the 400 stations shortlisted for development were in SCR zone, and three in the city.
MMTS station 5 km from airport not viable: SCR
While the MMTS will be extended up to Yadadri from Ghatkesar, the MMTS Phase-II that is targeted for completion by December 2017 will not connect the Shamshabad international airport.
SCR general manager Ravindra Gupta said rail officials had consulted the airport authorities and that of land 5 km from the terminal for MMTS would not be suitable, Mr Gupta said they were hopeful of that a decision on the matter would be taken next year.
He said the freight performance of SCR had seen a small drop this fiscal compared to the previous financial year due to various reasons, like reduction in loading of imported iron ore and imported coal.
