The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Laloo grants NJR's plea for new express train

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Thursday, Jul 01, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Laloo grants NJR's plea for new express train

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JUNE 30. The Union Minister for Railways, Laloo Prasad Yadav, has agreed to a suggestion of the Visakhapatnam MP, N. Janardhana Reddy, to run an overnight train, Simhapuri Express, between Hyderabad and Gudur to cater to the needs of Nellore, Prakasam and Guntur districts. In a statement on Wednesday, Mr. Reddy said that he urged Mr. Yadav to take up some new railway lines and trains in the State.

He also sought sanction of a flyover or road overbridge at Simhachalam on the Howrah-Chennai main line on cost sharing basis in lieu of three level-crossings which had been pending for many years. Seven to eight villages had been facing severe problem due to lack of a road overbridge as level crossings are being closed 30 times daily. Mr. Reddy urged the Minister to include the proposal in the railway works programme for 2004-05 budget on cost-sharing basis with the State Government. Mr. Yadav agreed to the proposal, he said.

The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) conducted a feasibility study by L & T Romboll Consulting Engineers, and the Special Chief Secretary, Transport, had also sent his recommendations on the road overbridge, Mr. Reddy said.

Mr. Reddy also took to the notice of Mr. Yadav about the long-pending demand for merger of the Waltair division with the South Central Railway.

The jurisdiction of the division comprises Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts, a small stretch of Orissa and a negligible area of Madhya Pradesh. He said that the Minister had agreed to look into the issue.

Mr. Janardhana Reddy also sought a railway line linking Nadikudi and Venkatagiri, which could function as an alternative route to the Chennai-Vijayawada main line and the survey for which was conducted long ago.

The line would ease congestion on the Grand Trunk line. The Minister, Mr. Reddy said, had agreed to get the feasibility of the new line re-assessed.

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