Nizamabad: The Nizamabad railway station will get junction status shortly, as soon as the new 178-km broad gauge railway line from Peddapally to Karimnagar and Nizamabad is complete, by November 2016. The new line will reduce the distance of around 175 km to New Delhi from Nizamabad. Rail connectivity to Mumbai from Karimnagar will also be established. It would boost the economy of north Telangana districts and realise the eight-decade-long dream of people from both districts.
The existing railway line on the Secunderabad-Nizamabad-Manmad section was laid during the Nizam’s rule in early 1920s. In the princely state of Hyderabad the district had junction only at Jankampet, which connects Bodhan 28 km away.
The then Prime Minister late P.V. Narasimha Rao laid the foundation stone for the Peddapally-Nizamabad railway line in 1993. Due to the apathy of elected representatives from the Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts and South Central Railway no importance was given to this railway line so far.
Finally, the Railway Board decided to complete the Armoor-Nizamabad section for commercial purposes. Maharashtra Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, TRS MP K. Kavitha and other leaders played a vital role for completion of the work. In this context, Rs 70 crore was allocated in the Railway Budget of 2016-17. In the last Budget Rs 141 crore was sanctioned and work speeded up accordingly.
Speaking to DC, SCR executive engineer Y. Venkateshwar Rao said that due to some hurdles created by a few persons, work was affected in Nizamabad district.
“We will complete the work by September and passenger services will be started,” he said. “132 KV power line works and other issues will be settled at the earliest to complete the work,” he added. Replying to a question, he said that Commissioner of railway safety (CSR) completed inspection upto Morthad for train services.
