The state got a good deal out of the Railway Budget announced on Wednesday. In all, 15 new express trains will originate from Andhra Pradesh and 10 more will pass through the state. This accounts for one-third of the total Mail and Express trains that will be introduced across the country in the next financial year.
Expansion of the MMTS Phase 2 project covering 103 km has also been sanctioned on a cost-sharing basis. Rs 99 crore has been sanctioned for the current year. This is a chunk of one-third of the estimated cost (total Rs 632 crore) for strengthening the suburban system of MMTS Phase II, which includes doubling and electrification.
The Budget also set aside Rs 125 crore towards passenger amenities. Two new line projects between Bhadrachalam-Kovuur and Akkanpet-Medak have also been sanctioned along with the crucial Kazipet-Vijaywada third line doubling project for decongesting the important route. Besides this, doubling work on Raghavapuram-Peddampet, Isivi-Kupgal, Kosigi-Mentralayam will be completed during this fiscal.
Three originating trains, Madurai-Tirupati Express, Bodhan-Nizamabad Passenger, Arakonam-Nandalur Passenger will be extended to Rameshwaram, Kamareddi and Kadapa respectively. The frequency of four originating trains will also be increased. These are the Secunderabad-Tirupati Express (from two to four days), Hyderabad-Kolhapur Express (from two to seven days), Madurai-Tirupati Express (from two to three days) and Sir Ganganagar-Huzur Saheb Nanded Express (from one to three days). Also, the frequency of two pass-through trains, Villupuram-Kharagpur Express and Hazrat Nizamuddin-Kanyakumari Express will be increased from one day to two days.
Jalna, Macherla, Piduguralla, Pokarni Narsimha, Sattenapalli and Vinukonda stations will be developed as Adarsh stations.