Vijayawada: The Centre on Friday told Parliament committee that in principle, a decision has been taken to create a separate railway zone for AP with Visakhapatnam as headquarters. “As per of the AP Reorganisation Act-2014, the Railways ministry is required to examine the feasibility of establishing a new railway zone in Andhra Pradesh. A committee of senior railway officers had been constituted to examine the feasibility of establishing the new railway zone,” said minister of state for railways Rajen Gohain.
Mr Gohain was giving a reply to YSR Congress MP V. Vijaya Sai Reddy’s question on whether the Centre would create a separate a railway zone for AP. “The committee has been asked to consult various stakeholders, including the Members of Parliament and state governments before a final decision is taken,” the minister added. Mr Vijaya Sai Reddy also sought to know whether there were any obstacles in the way of creation of a separate railway zone for AP; and as to whether the ministry was mandated to implement the provision provided under the AP Reogranisation Act.
Answering another question by Mr Vijaya Sai Reddy, Mr Gohain said that a proposal for a new railway line from Nambur Junction via Amaravati connecting Vijayawada – Kazipet section at Errupalem has been received. He also said that a Reconnaissance Engineering-cum-Traffic survey has been completed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited and proposed connectivity consists of three segments — Namburu –Amaravati – Errupalem double line with electrification (56.80 km), Peddakurapadu –Amaravati single line non-electrified section (24.50 km) and Sattenpalli – Narsaraopet single line non-electrified section (25.0 km), amounting a total of 106.30 km.
Seventeen new Junction /Crossing/Halt stations have been proposed at Errupalem, Amaravati, Namburu, Pedakurapadu, Sattenpalli, Narasaraopet, Peddapuram, Paritala, Koppuravuru, Revela, Chennaraopalem, Gottu-mukkala, Kothapalli, Veddamanu, Tadikonda, Nidumukkola and Chaga-ntivaripalem, according to the minister. The estimated cost for above lines is Rs 2,679.59 crore.
Since completion of project depends upon several factors including complete handing over of encumbrance-free land by the state government, shifting of utilities, etc. and most of these factors are beyond the control of Ministry of Railways, target date for completion of the above project has not been fixed.
