Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav addressing a press conference at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday. , Photo credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
The Union Budget has brought a gift for the South Central Railway (SCR) with the highest ever sanction of ₹13,786.19 crore for various works for the year 2023-24 as compared to ₹8,349 crore in the previous year – nearly 65% growth of This includes ₹4,418 crore (₹3,048 crore last year) or a 45% increase for Telangana, and ₹8,406 crore (₹7,032 crore) or a 20% increase for Andhra Pradesh.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav shared the figures in an online interaction from New Delhi on Friday evening and said it was in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “putting aside politics for development” and “faster cooperation” from the two Telugu states. urged to do Proposed projects with such huge outlays for new lines, doubling, tripling, electrification, modernization of stations, safety works like road overbridges and underbridges.
For the residents of the twin cities, the most welcome development may be the allocation of ₹600 crore for MMTS Phase II. While Mr. Vaishnav once again regretted the lack of response by the Telangana government to release the pending amount of its two-thirds share of ₹487 crore, ₹279 crore released so far against the revised estimate of ₹1,150 crore With this, it is clear that the Railways is going ahead with the project before the general elections.
“Most of the sections are complete with electrification and doubling except the chordline between Secunderabad-Moula Ali section and Moula Ali-Malkajgiri-Sitaphalmandi. We aim to complete the work by March 2024,” SCR general manager Arun Kumar Jain said at a press conference held at Rail Nilayam later.
With ₹82 crore allocated for the Cherlapalli new terminal station on the outskirts, this facility may also be ready next year. The Railway Minister said that another Rs 160 crore has been allocated for the upcoming wagon repair workshop at Kazipet and it may eventually be converted into a coach manufacturing facility after a feasibility study is done.
For the development of Secunderabad railway station, Rs 129 crore has been allocated and a new Rs 125 crore ‘Midlife Rehabilitation Factory’ has also been built at Kurnool near Alampur.
Substantial allocation for major projects includes Rs.980 crore for Guntakal-Guntur doubling, Rs.800 crore for Vijayawada-Gudur 3rd line, Rs.450.86 crore for Kazipet-Balharshah 3rd line, Rs.345 crore for Munirabad-Mahbubnagar new line, 337.52 crore for Kazipet- includes Rs. Vijayawada 3rd line, ₹202 crore for Nadikudi-Srikalhasti new line and ₹185 crore for Manoharabad-Kothapalli new line, among others.