Hyderabad: South Central Railway General Manager Vinod Kumar Yadav said that the SCR has got a substantial budgetary allocation for the year 2017-18 as compared to the previous year.
Addressing a press conference at Rail Nilayam in Secunderabad on Friday, Yadav said towards infrastructure, the SCR has been sanctioned a staggering amount of Rs 3,034 Crs for the year 2017-18 as against Rs. 2,134 Crore for 2016-17, which is 42 % more. For new lines, the budgetary grant is Rs 887 Crs, as against Rs. 760 Crore for 2016-17, which is 17 % more. For doubling works, the budgetary grant is Rs 436 Crs, as against Rs. 172.6 Crore for 2016-17, which is 153 % more. For traffic facilities, the budgetary grant is Rs 96.1 Crs, as against Rs. 75 Crore for 2016-17, which is 28 % more. For passenger amenities, the budgetary grant is Rs 67.8 Crs, as against Rs. 65.6 Crore for 2016-17, which is 3 % more.
New infrastructure projects sanctioned on SCR in this year includes a new work between Armoor – Adilabad via Nirmal in Telangana State for a length of 220 Kms at a cost of Rs. 2800 Crore This will be a Joint Venture (JV) with Telangana State Government.
The other new projects include Vijayawada – Amaravathi – Guntur new line in Andhra Pradesh state at a cost of Rs. 2,680 Crs for a distance of 106 Kms; Development of Rajahmundry yard at an estimated cost of Rs. 27.2 Crs; Construction of 4 new Crossing stations at an estimated cost of Rs.19 Cr has.
As many as 9 new surveys have also been sanctioned on SCR jurisdiction.
The SCR GM said that this year special emphasis was given on safety and substantial amounts have been provided for the same.
The SCR GM informed that Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu would launch the works for modernisation of Secunderabad and Kachiguda Railway Stations on February 8.
He also informed that the SCR was in receipt of clearances from State Government for acquisition of 160 acres of land for construction of Wagon Factory at Qazipet. With regard to MMTS connectivity to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, he said first round of talks have been held with the RGIA authorities.
He said it was yet to be decided whether to construct a station at about 1.5 KM distance from the airport or go for an under-ground terminal. He said that the underground route would increase the project cost by Rs. 250 crore.
Yadav said Rs. 16 core has been allocated for construction of new station with six platforms at Cherlapally. He said that the tendering process would take about six months and the construction is expected to be completed in 30 months.
Additional General Manager A.K. Gupta and other Principal Heads of Departments of SCR were present on the occasion. (INN)