The Hindu : Dattatreya lays stone for overbridge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 16, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Dattatreya lays stone for overbridge

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Dec. 15. The Secunderabad railway station will become a `nerve centre' of development with trains originating from here proposed to be linked to all State Capitals. This was hinted by the Union Minister of State for Railways, Bandaru Dattatreya, while laying the foundation stone for a Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Sitafalmandi, here on Sunday.

The Rs. 7.11-crore ROB at Sitafalmandi would be completed by June 2003. It would also be turned into a model railway station as it formed part of the Multi Model Transport System. The Railways had contributed Rs. 3.45 crores and the State Government Rs. 3.66 crores for the ROB. It will have a span of 34.5 metres and a carriageway width of 12 metres. For want of land acquisition ROBs were pending at many places. The Railways had proposed six ROBs in the City at Hafizpet, Budvel, Moulali-Sanathnagar road, Safilguda and Jamia Osmania at a cost of Rs. 50 crores. These ROBs would be completed in next two years. If the State Government came forward the Railways was ready to build ROBs, where ever required on a cost-sharing basis, Mr. Dattatreya said.

Referring to the MMTS, he said eight new trains were expected to arrive here in January. They would be run on a trial basis and the project would be commissioned by Ugadi. He also announced opening of new computer reservation centres at Begumpet, Begum Bazar, Banjara Hills, Chilkalguda, Uppal, Falaknuma, Shalibanda, Vijyanagar Colony, Amberpet, Balanagar and Mehdipatnam. Additional ticket booking centres would be opened in the MMTS stations by March, he said.

Responding to requests earlier made by M. Rajaiah, MP, and others, Mr. Dattatreya said a survey would be conducted for laying a line between Secunderabad-Karimnagar via Siddpet. He would also consider laying ROBs at Ghatkesar, Neredmet and Keesera. He was ready to sanction the ROBs, but it was for the legislators to get proposals from the State Government. He had opened his own website and anyone was free to get in touch with him, he said.

T. Srinivas Yadav, Minister for Tourism, said an ROB at Sitafalmandi was a long-felt need. He urged the Railway Minister to expedite work on the Jamai Osmania ROB.

K. Laxman, G. Sayanna, MLAs, the Mayor, T. Krishna Reddy, the Deputy Mayor, G. Subhash Chanderji and the Additional GM, SCR, Gosh Dastidar, also spoke.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Marshals on prowl to thwart dope 'trick'

Games hype fails to enthuse crowds

BJP holds `victory rally'

Fake certificate racket busted

Dattatreya lays stone for overbridge