SCR gets Rs 2,768 Cr in Railway Budget

The South Central Railway got Rs 2,768 crore for development of infrastructure in the Union Railway Budget 2015-16, presented by Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu in Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference at Rail Nilayam, SCR General Manager P K Srivastava said that allocation of Rs 2,768 crore was 24 more than last year. The major projects that were allocated to the SCR include Rs 141 crore for Peddapalli - Karimnagar - Nizamabad line. He said the amount would help in completion of the line. The other allocations are: Rs 20 crore for Manoharabad - Kottapalli line; Rs 100 crore for Mellacheruvu - Vishupuram project; Rs 130 crore for Nandyal - Yerraguntla line; Rs 110 crore for Nadikudi - Srikalahasti project; Rs 150 crore for doubling and electrification of Vijayawada - Bhimavaram - Nidavolu line and Rs 1,200 crore for Secunderabad - Mahaboobnagar doubling project.

Among Passenger Amenities, five new works have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 29 crore. An amount of Rs 133.46 crore has been allocated for the 2015-16 which is 28% more than last financial year. The SCR has been allotted 32% traffic facilities of Indian Railways and four works have been sanctioned for Rs 68 crore.

Srivastava informed that 38 new ROB/RUBs have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 1,587 crore.

Giving the details, the SCR General Manager said that for the Rs 1,200 Crore Secunderabad - Mahabubnagar doubling project, Rs 10 crore has been allocated in this year's budget. For tripling of Qazipet-Vijayawada and Qazipet-Balharshah lines, Rs 100 crore and Rs 46 crore have been allocated respectively. He said Satellite Railway Terminals would be established in Moula Ali and Nagampally. He said Rs 120 crore would be spent to establish lifts and escalators at different places in the SCR.

Srivastava said steps were being taken to remove encroachments on the site where Railway Coach Factory was proposed to be established in Qazipet. He sought the cooperation of the State Government for removal of encroachments.