Vijayawada: The rapid rail connectivity between Amaravati capital and Hyderabad may not become a reality even though the AP Reorganisation Act has promised special rail transport for the two capitals.
The minister of state for railways Manoj Sinha confirmed that no such proposal was with the railway ministry. In a reply to a question from Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas, the minister stated that there was no need to establish new connectivity when the existing rail services via Vijayawada and Guntur were sufficient for Amaravati capital city.
The Andhra Pradesh government hoped to have rapid rail connectivity when the Centre had unveiled plans to introduce bullet train and other speed train services between important cities.
According to reports, the Centre has initiated a survey for this for two corridors in northern India. Foreign financial consultancies and funding agencies are interested in investing in such projects. Jap-an’’s International Coo-peration Agency (JICA) and various Chinese financial agencies have already taken part in some such surveys.
Recently, the Hyderabad-Chennai-Howrah stretch is also included for a feasibility study as part of the project. Experts from China and Japan toured the areas and conducted meetings with government officials.
Recently, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his interest to share expenditure for important railway projects in the state but the railway ministry cold-shouldered it.
However, the railway ministry is going ahead with the 309-km Srikalahasti Nadikudi new lane project, which would be taken up as a joint project involving the railways and the state.
Meanwhile, the railway ministry said the third lane from Kazipet to Vijayawada, which was announced in the last Budget, would be useful instead of a rapid rail system to clear the traffic.
South Central Railway Mazdoor Union secretary Ch. Shankar Rao said the rapid rail system will be very useful for AP and Telangana. The state government and MPs of Andhra Pradesh should fight for this project.
Former MP Yalamanchali Sivaji said the MPs should raise issues which are in the AP Reorganisation Act in the Parliament only, instead of holding agitations.
