Cherlapalli railway station turns tourist spot

Hyderabad: The Cherlapalli railway terminal, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, is the new talk of the town. The swanky station, with a vast lobby adorned with colourful murals, landscaped gardens, and fountains, and a striking artefact at the entrance, has turned the new selfie spot.

Residents from the surrounding colonies have been flocking to the station with friends and families. Though only a few train services are operational, and passengers complain of the distance from the station, the is drawing large crowds of onlookers.

“We heard a lot about this station,” said Rathan Babu of Kushaiguda, who arrived with 30 of his friends and family. “After it was inaugurated, we all planned a visit since it’s closer than other tourist spots. The station is beautiful.”

Ramya and Pushpa, who came from Ashoknagar near Mallapur, shared similar enthusiasm: “We are excited to be here. We took loads of photographs. It was a pleasant evening trip. This station adds beauty to this area.”

For those living on the outskirts of Hyderabad, such as Chengicherla, the station offers a new leisure destination. “Apart from industries and real estate plots, there are hardly any good places here,” said Renuka Bhavani. “This railway station is close by, and we came to explore it after the inauguration. It’s quite beautiful and will serve us better in the future.”

Saniya Khan of Bharatnagar, Cherlapalli, who has lived in the city for 20 years, expressed hopes for better connectivity: “I am originally from UP. If trains to UP operate from here, it will be very convenient for us.”