Rs 834 crore for new rail lines in Telangana
HYDERABAD: As much as Rs 834 crore has been allocated to South Central Railways (SCR), earmarked as budgetary grants for new lines. A total of Rs 900 crore has been allocated for new under-construction lines pertaining to Telangana.
For the new line between Akanapet and Medak, which was sanctioned in 2012-13, Rs 20 crore has been allocated. The 17-km-long proposed line is estimated to cost around Rs 118 crore - 50 per cent of the project cost will be shared by the government of Telangana, which includes the cost of land.
Another Rs 200 crore has been allocated for the new line project of Manoharabad Kothapalli that was sanctioned in 2006-2007. The 150-km-long line will cost around 1,160 crores. The first phase of the project, from Manoharabad to Gajwel, covering a distance of 32 km, is nearing completion.
A new line between Munirabad and Mahbubnagar, that will cover a distance of 246 km and was envisioned in 1997-98, has been allocated Rs 275 crore. It may be noted that only 66 km of the proposed line lies in Telangana. It is expected to cost around Rs 645 crore in total.
Meanwhile, around Rs 405 crore has been allocated for the new line between Bhadrachalam and Sattupalli. The project was proposed in 2011-11. The 56-km-long line is estimated to cost Rs 704 crore. It will be built jointly by Railways and Singareni Collieries.
Another inter-State project between Telangana and Maharashtra, between Kazipet and Balaharshah, has been allotted Rs 265 crore. The project was sanctioned in 2015-16 for a distance of 202 km, with an estimated cost of Rs 2,063 crore. The sections between Raghavapuram and Potkapalli, Bisugir Sharif and Uppal, and Wirur and Manikgarh, covering a length of 66 km, are nearing completion.
ISRDC given full powers
Indian Railways Stations Development Corporation Limited (IRSDC), the special purpose vehicle of the Ministry of Railways which will be redeveloping Secunderabad railway station, has been entrusted with a huge amount of power to complete the project. Officials of South Central Railways (SCR) told Express that IRSDC can set up its own fund by raising money from financial institutions. It can also take up facility management of a station, where redevelopment may not be required.
As of now, the Railway Ministry has asked the IRSDC to undertake a techno-economic feasibility study and take up associated schemes, master plans and business plans to undertake redevelopment of railway stations and associated railway land. “While carrying out the studies and preparing requisite master plans, IRSDC shall interact closely with concerned Zonal Railways/Divisions and local authorities while preparing requisite master plans,” an SCR official said.