KOTHAGUDEM: In what comes as a big relief to people from six mandals, the 54.10-km railway line project between Kothagudem and Sattupalli is nearing completion. This will be a welcome development for those from Sattupalli, Penuballi, Annapureddy, Chandrugonda Sujathanagar and Kothagudem mandals and on two counts.
South Central Railway (SCR) officials made a trial run on the new rail line in Sujatha Nagar mandal, where commercial activity is to begin soon. The railway line was built jointly by Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and SCR.
It may be noted that SCCL used to transport coal from Sattupally open cast mines to Kothagudem by road with around 500 high-load vehicles plying every day. This has caused dismay because road accidents involving those vehicles were too frequent. The only ones who made handsome profits were the transport contractors.
Not only were roads getting damaged often but even pollution was high from the smoke and dust emanating from the vehicles. Rail connectivity is near Godsend for them.
Secondly, the people can hope for an early passenger train between Sattupalli and Kothagudem. There is also a proposal to extend the line to Vijayawada.
B Nagaprasad from Penuballi said “It is a new experience to the people of the area after hearing and watching a train engine on a new rail line. We hope to soon have passenger trains”.
SCR acquired 353 hectares of land for the project. At least, 10 major bridges, 40 minor bridges, 34 road under bridges, eight road over bridges and three crossing stations are lined up along the rail line. SCCL had given Rs 618 crore to SCR out of the overall project cost of Rs 927 crore.
