Bitragunta unit lies dormant
Concrete sleeper manufacturing unit dormant at foundation stone stage
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-10-21 06:00 GMT
Nellore: Although it is almost 10 years since then railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav laid foundation stone for a concrete sleeper manufacturing unit at Bitragunta in SPSR Nellore district, the project remained as a non-starter despite efforts by people’s representatives from time to time.In a bid to make use of the 1,100 acre belonging to railways lying idle at Bitragunta, then Union minister of state for health and family welfare Panabaka Lakshmi had prevailed upon Lalu Prasad to sanction the unit in 2005.
However, the project remained in cold storage due to negative reports submitted by railway authorities. Ms Lakshmi had squarely blamed the senior officials of South Central Railway for recommending against the project then.She alleged that the officials had sent negative reports about the proposed concrete sleeper unit even after allocations were made in the Budget.
In fact, Bitragunta was an important landmark for railways and it was one of the biggest locomotive sheds in Indian railways till steam engines were replaced by diesel and electrical locomotives. The loco shed was constructed in 1885 and the roundhouse with turntable facility was added in 1934.The shed had capacity to handle 50 steam locomotives with major yard and an inter-changing depot for drivers and guards. It is still an inter-changing depot for guards and drivers manning goods and passenger trains.
A resident of Bitragunta Bachhu Janardhan Rao has appealed to the union government to setup EMU (Electrical Multiple Unit) maintenance centre or carriage wagon workshop to make use of the site and bring past glory to the town which was known as Railway Cantonment.Members of Bitragunta railway development committee, Dr Anand Sagar, Mr Narahari and Mr Jayaraj said that they have submitted representations to the government and waiting for reaction.
When contacted Ms Lakshmi said that she tried her best to include Bitragunta development subject in the bifurcation bill but it did not happen because of various reasons. Meanwhile, district collector N. Srikant said Mr Venkaiah Naidu had directed the railway authorities to come out with a proposal to make use of the railway land in Bitragunta during a review on railway projects at Nellore in July this year. He added that the railways are yet to submit the proposal.