The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Two broad gauge railway lines inaugurated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 08, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Two broad gauge railway lines inaugurated

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD, FEB. 7. The Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu, said that his Ministry is ready to sanction as many rail overbridges as possible provided the State Government comes forward to bear 50 per cent of the cost of construction in principle.

He also promised to sanction a rail underbridge on the road connecting the old market with the new market in the town.

He asked the General Manager, South Central Railway, T. Stanley Babu, to examine it and if technically feasible give immediate sanction.

Non-committal

On the allocation of more funds for the construction of the Karimnagar-Nizamabad line, the Minister remained non-committal.

He, however, asked the General Manager to release the amount for paying compensation to farmers who lost lands in the land acquisition for the proposed line.

Mr. Velu made these announcements in response to the appeals by the Minister for Rural Development, D. Srinivas, and the MP, Madhu Goud Yaskhi, and others at the meeting organised by the SCR in connection with the inauguration of the newly converted Nizamabad-Manoharabad broad gauge line here on Monday.

Lauding the authorities for completing the track conversion 11 months ahead of the scheduled time, he said:

"This day is an auspicious and immemorable day for the people of Nizamabad as the town has become a gateway to North and South with the opening of the broad gauge line.''

Extension sought

The Union Minister of State for Rural Development, A. Narendra, said the broad gauge line could be achieved after many struggles. He urged the Railway Minister to look into his proposal for the extension of this line through Akkannapally covering Medak district.

Recalling the role played by one and all, particularly the Nizamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry for gauge conversion, Mr. Srinivas asked for sanction of RoBs at Madhavnagar, Dichpally and Kamareddy on the National Highway 7.

In his presidential address, Mr Madhu Goud said the dream of the people had come true as the broad gauge was achieved after 16 years of struggle.

S. Santhosh Reddy and Mohammed Ali Shabbir, Ministers, G. Ganga Reddy, MLA, and the ZP Chairman, Sadanandam, also spoke. Mr. Velu later unveiled plaques marking the inaugural of the broad gauge line and remodelled railway station and flagged off a passenger train.

Minister's plea

Adilabad: Mr. Velu inaugurated the newly laid Adilabad-Kinwat broad gauge railway line and the remodelled railway station here.

Speaking at the function, he urged the State Government to cooperate with the Railway Ministry with regard to the demands for various new facilities made by the Adilabad and Kinwat MLAs, C. Ramchander Reddy and Pradeep Naik, respectively.

The Minister promised that all demands would be looked into. There were demands for introduction of a passenger service between Adilabad and Nagpur, completion of the gauge conversion works between Kinwat and Mudkhed in Maharashtra, constructiopn of a railway overbridge near the market level crossing and a level crossing near the station. Mr. Velu announced a reward of Rs. 3 lakhs for the personnel of the Railway Construction Organisation for executing quality works. Adilabad MP, T. Madhusudan Reddy, Nirmal MLA, A. Indrakaran Reddy, South Central Railways General Manager, Stanley Babu, district Collector J. Sudha Rani and Superintendent of Police, Kripa Nand Tripathi Ujela, were present. Adilabad Municipal chairman Badan Ganganna accorded a civic reception to the Minister.

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