The long cherished dream of Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts is becoming a reality with decks being cleared to commission the newly-built railway line between them on Saturday.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu will dedicate the 180-km-long line to the nation through the video link from Secunderabad on Saturday.
Foundation was laid for the line between Peddapalli and Nizamabad by the then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1994 and it has taken 23 years to be completed in a phased manner. Work came to a standstill after the line was built upto Jagityal a few years ago. Gradually, it was extended to Morthad and passenger trains began moving between Karimnagar-Morthad since last year.
Fund allocation
A good deal of allocation, ₹142 crore, was made in the Railway budget in the previous year and this paved the way for its completion.
The railway line will become a nerve centre in the railway map of the country as it will connect all the key lines. It will also help reduce travel time and distance between Maharashtra and New Delhi.
The district headquarters town will become a junction as it connects Secunderabad and Nanded routes. The Railway authorities said initially, for a couple of months, demo train with three coaches will run to Morthad and thereafter, passenger trains will ply on the route. They are not sure of commissioning the express trains immediately. However, freight carriers will run soon, says an official, pleading anonymity. There are about 25 stations between Nizamabad-Karimnagar. Line-checking is being done thoroughly and workers are on the job day and night.
Arrangements are on for the conduct of a formal function marking the inaugural expected to be attended by District Collector, Commissioner of Police, Mayor and other elected representatives here on Saturday.
New train service to boost economy
KARIMNAGAR: The work on Peddapalli-Nizamabad railway line was completed in phases. The first phase from Peddapalli to Karimnagar covering a stretch of 35.3 km was completed in 2001 by introducing a passenger train.
The line from Karimnagar to Jagtial covering a distance of 47.34 km was completed in 2007 when Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was the then Karimnagar MP. The railway line was completed till Armoor and the authorities conducted engine rolling till Morthad last year.
Following the initiative taken by Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha, the authorities intensified the work and extended the train service from Peddapalli to Morthad. As promised by the MP, the railway line was connected to Nizamabad in March this year and train service introduced.
The new train service would boost the economy in the region and would benefit the employees travelling from Karimnagar to Jagtial and Peddapalli districts with the cheapest and fastest mode of transport.