Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two new Vande Bharat train services between Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar and Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
Additionally, the PM dedicated various projects including doubling/third line initiatives and ‘one station, one product’ (OSOP) stalls across the Waltair division. Events were held at several stations within the division, which were coordinated by divisional railway manager Saurabh Prasad and senior officials.
The Prime Minister set the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple developmental projects worth over `1,06,000 crore.
He dedicated 67 OSOP stalls and 3 goods sheds to the nation in Vijayawada division. In this division, 3 upgraded good sheds at Tanuku, Bikkavolu and Eluru and 67 OSOP stalls along with the Gudur–Bitragunta third line, Bitragunta–Karavadi–Chirala third line and Vijayawada bypass line were also dedicated to the nation.
The inauguration included a new Vande Bharat service from Visakhapatnam to Bhubaneswar and introduction of another Vande Bharat train from Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam, supplementing the existing service on this route.
Modi also dedicated the completed sections of two doubling projects in Kothavalasa-Koraput and Koraput-Rayagada lines, portions of the Vizianagaram-Titlagarh third line project, a goods shed at Dumuriput and OSOP stalls at 16 stations across the division.
Regular services on the Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam-Bhubaneswar Vande Bharat Express (20841/20842) will begin on March 17, while the Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam-Secunderabad Vande Bharat express (20707/20708) will commence its journey on March 13.
R. Dhananjayulu, additional general manager, SCR, said the sector has taken up various projects including 193 OSOPs, nine PM Gati Shakti cargo terminals, 11 goods sheds, 2 Jan Aushadi Kendras, 14 Double Line, Third Line, Gauge Conversion and Bypass Lines and three rail coach restaurants.
Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar MP and Vanka Ravindranath MLC attended the event at Eluru along with Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Narendra A. Patil, DRM Vijayawada and other senior railway officials.
The Vande Bharat Express from Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam received a grand welcome at Vijayawada Railway station. School children were dressed in the attire of iconic freedom fighters to greet the train. Cultural troupes were also present.
Simultaneously, functions were held at 18 other locations including Tanuku, Bikkavolu, Anakapalle, Tuni, Samalkot, Kakinada Town, Rajahamahendravaram, Nidadavolu, Kaikaluru, Tadepalligudem, Tenali, Bapatla, Singarayakonda, Bitragunta, Kavali, Narasapur, Gudivada and Machilipatnam.
