VIJAYAWADA: After initial hiccups, the much-awaited ‘Rail Neer’ bottling plant will be set up by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) at Mallavalli Industrial Corridor in Gannavaram Mandal of the district. The IRCTC officials mooted the project to cater to the drinking water needs of the passengers travelling through the Vijayawada railway division.
According to the IRCTC officials, a few days ago a team of officials inspected the Mallavalli Industrial Corridor, where Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) has proposed to allot land to IRCTC for setting up a bottling plant for ‘Rail Neer’ project. Impressed with the infrastructure at the industrial corridor, the officials decided to purchase 1.04 acres of land at a cost of `16.50 lakh per acre under the rate of sale fixed by the State Government.
Considering the increase of passenger footfall in Vijayawada division, the Railway Board had allocated `10 crore during 2012-13 fiscal year for setting up of Rail Neer bottling plant near the city, but the project remained a non-starter.
“Earlier, we had identified suitable land to establish the ‘Rail Neer’ plant near Krishna Canal junction, where a reservoir was being maintained by the railway authorities to cater to the needs of staff, offices and loco sheds. Tenders were also invited but companies expressed their disinterest in the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) process,” said a senior IRCTC official on condition of anonymity.
Disclosing the details of the plant, the official said it could produce 85,000 litres water bottles per day, which would be offered to passengers at a reasonable price.
The Vijayawada division requires at least 15,000 litres of water per day. Presently, we procure water bottles from a similar bottling plant in Tamil Nadu, and a one-litre water bottle costs around `25. If a similar plant is established at Mallavalli Village, water may be available at `15, he added.