The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Nod for two more escalators at railway station in Vijayawada, says MP

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Nod for two more escalators at railway station in Vijayawada, says MP

Staff Reporter

Lagadapati inaugurates renovated track on platform No. 7

Railway network in division set for rapid development, says MP
Water dispensing unit on every platform proposed, says DRM

VIJAWAWADA: MP Lagadapati Rajagopal on Wednesday inaugurated a renovated railway track on platform no. 7 in the Vijayawada railway station.

At a press conference that followed the inaugural function, Mr. Rajagopal said that the renovation of the railway track using Rheda technology imported from Germany was completed in a record span of 45 days at a cost of Rs. 4 crores. It was important to upgrade and develop facilities in the railway station, as it was an important junction handling 180 passenger and express trains in addition to 110 goods trains every day. Seven of the 10 platforms were made washable, paving the way for hygienic surroundings. The MP said two additional escalators were approved for platforms 2-3 and 4-5, he said, adding that the railway line between Gunadala and Rayanapadu would be developed to enable the authorities to divert goods trains in that route and ease traffic congestion here.

Busiest station

He said railway network in the division was set for rapid development in the days to come.

Divisional Railway Manager S.K. Sharma said that on an average, nearly 90,000 passengers visited the Vijayawada railway station every day, making it one of the busiest railway stations. Development works worth Rs. 15 crores had been completed in the last three years, while funds to the tune of Rs. 20 crores sanctioned in the current financial year for new projects. He said a proposal to set up water dispensing unit in every platform had been sent to the Railway Board. The project would enable people to buy pure drinking water for Rs. 3-a-litre instead of shelling out Rs. 12 for a mineral water bottle.

Speaking about the damage caused to the railway track near Howrah due to cyclone in West Bengal last week, he said that all to and fro train services from Howrah had been cancelled and he was hopeful that the track restoration works would be completed in the next two or three days.

MLA Ilapuram Venkaiah, former Mayor Jandhyala Shankar, Additional Divisional Railway Manager M. Sarjan Rao and others were present.

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