Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh government has requested the Railway Ministry to direct the Railway Board to immediately work on survey for the railway lines such as Narsapur-Machilipatnam; Darsi-Narasaraopet; Cumbum-Ongole; Chittoor-Kuppam via Palamaner; Obulavaripalli-Vayalapadu to provide better connectivity to Rayalaseema with coastal Andhra..

The State government urged the South Central Railway to ensure that the construction of the Nandyal-Yerraguntla railway line, which is at advanced stage, is completed this year. Chief Secretary I Y R Krishna Rao on Wednesday reviewed the pending railway projects in the State with Sam Bob, principal secretary (R & B) and other officials concerned.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary recalled that Nadikudi- Srikalahasthi railway line was sanctioned to the State and the 1st phase of Piduguralla-Rompichelra was to be completed at a cost of Rs 207 crore. Hence, he requested the Centre to make a provision in the ensuing Railway Budget for the early completion of this project.

As the detailed project report of the proposed Kotipalli-Narsarpur railway line is yet to be completed, the Chief Secretary requested the Railway authorities to complete it at the earliest. AP government also requested the railways to take up the doubling of railway line between Guntur and Guntakal, Gooty and Dharmavaram on a priority basis. It also urged the Centre to finalise Kakinada-Pitapuram estimates which were pending with the Railway Board.

Source: THI