Three Projects a Saving Grace

VIJAYAWADA:The only silver lining in an otherwise insipid Railway Budget is clearance given for three projects in Vijayawada and Guntur divisions of the South Central Railway.

Though the much-anticipated separate railway zone for the state was not mentioned in the budget, allocations for the South Central Railway (SCR) were significantly high. In fact, they were 24 per cent more than what was allocated in the 2014-15 Railway Budget.

The ongoing works of the new railway line between Mellacheruvu and Vishnupuram project, which passes through Jaggayyapeta in Krishna district got a boost with allocation of Rs 100 crore. The allocation will enable the project to get completed. Once it is completed, the distance between Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam will be reduced by 60 km through this new railway line, which is not only expected to benefit passengers but also cement factories, located in region Jaggayyapeta region.

Vijayawada-Bhimavaram-Nidadavolu doubling and electrification works got a boost with allocation of Rs 150 crore. When it comes to sanction of new projects, Vijayawada-Gudur tripling of railway line project (293 km) with an estimated cost of Rs 2,423 crore was sanctioned and a budgetary allocation of Rs 55.4 crore were made for 2015-16.

Duvvada-Vijayawada railway line tripling project (335 km) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,350 crore was also sanctioned and the budgetary allocation of Rs  76.6 crore was made for the year 2015-16.  Vijayawada and Kazipet bypass new railway line project at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore was also sanctioned and a budgetary allocation of Rs 4.57 crore for the year 2015-16 was made.

Though it was not specified as to how much is expected for Vijaywada, Guntur divisions, the SCR got a budgetary allocation of Rs 26.9 crore, that is 60 per cent more than the previous railway budget for bridges and Rs 101.67 crore for road-over-bridges.