Cong MPs demand early completion of railway projects

The Congress MPs have demanded that the Centre hasten up the completion of railway projects of Andhra Pradesh.

Participating in the review meeting held by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at Jubilee Hall here on Thursday, the Congress MPs asked the Centre to increase the allocations for the State besides giving priority to the completion of pending projects. The MPs have also submitted proposals related to their constituencies.

Besides the Chief Minister, the meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Dharmana Prasad Rao, 13 Lok Sabha MPs, three Rajya Sabha MPs, Union Minister of State for HRD D Purandreswari and ministers - Botsa Satyanarayana and Sudershan Reddy.

Later, talking to reporters Rajya Sabha MP T Subbirami Reddy said that he has suggested setting up of a Railway Projects Develpment Fund of Rs 2,500 crore. He said the fund could be utilised to ensure speedy completion of railway projects in the State by taking central assistance. He also emphasised on the completion of Road Over Bridges across the State. He also demanded doubling of railway lines between Vijayawada - Gudiwada and Bheemavaram- Narsapur.

Rajay Sabha K Bapiraju said that the State MPs would submit a memorandum to Minister of State for Railways Dinesh Trivedi during his visit to the State on February 15 seeking more funds for the projects.

Nalgonada MP Gutta Sukhender Reddy demanded that railway projects in the Telangana be given priority. He also complained of lack of seriousness in the completion of projects in the Telangana region. Citing an instance, he said the railway line between Nalgonda and Macherla was approved in 1997-98 and an amount of Rs 83 crore was also sanctioned. However, the project is yet to be completed, he said.

Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal demanded that the Vijaywada Railway Station be developed as a World Class Station on the lines of Secunderabad Station. He also asked the Chief Minister to ensure that the Hyderabad-Vijayawada bullet train project is put on fast track.

The railway officials reportedly told the MPs it would take nearly 22 years to complete all the projects in the State. However, Rajagopal suggested that the Ministry of Railways should engage private parties or seek loans from the private banks for the early completion of the projects. He said he would raise the issue during the next budget session of the Parliament.