Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu and other Ministers commissioned the Nandyal-Yerraguntla railway line and flagged off the Nandyal-Kadapa DEMU passenger through remote video link at the Railway Institute here on Tuesday. The new train No.77401 Nandyal-Kadapa will leave Nandyal at 6 a.m. and reach Kadapa at 9.45 a.m. In return, train No. 77402 Kadapa-Nandyal will leave Kadapa at 10.05 a.m. and reach Nandyal at 1.50 p.m.
Train No.77403 Nandyal-Kadapa will leave Nandyal at 2.20 p.m. and arrive Kadapa at 6.05 p.m. In return direction, train No.77404 Kadapa-Nandyal will leave Kadapa at 6.30 p.m. and reach Nandyal at 10.15 p.m.
The trains will stop at Madduru, Koilkuntla, Sanjamala, Nosam, S. Uppalapadu, Jammalamadugu, Prodduturu and Yerraguntla stations.
Connection to capital
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prabhu said the new train would connect the Rayalaseema region with the Andhra Pradesh capital. The Nandyal-Yerraguntla line had been laid at a cost of Rs.967 crore.
Stating that the South Central Railway (SCR) would be developed in all spheres, the Minister said that A.P. would get its due from the Centre and the hurdles would be cleared soon. “I am happy to be a Rajya Sabha member from Andhra Pradesh,” Mr. Prabhu said.
The Chief Minister said the new train and the line were a crucial link for the development of Rayalaseema, which was a backward region. The proposal for the line was made in 1996, and it took 20 years for the completion of the project, he said.
Boost for exports
“Many limestone, granite, cement factories and ports will get connected with the new railway line and export will get a boost. The Railway Minister has made a proposal for Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with A.P., which was accepted immediately. Beautification of railway stations will be made in the State soon,” Mr. Naidu said. He appealed to the Railway Ministry to complete the pending projects, including the three new corridors.
Mr. Venkaiah Naidu said new lines estimated about Rs.18,672 crore and doubling of lines, estimated at Rs. 23,137 crore were under examination. He stressed the need for coordination among the State and the Central governments for overall development.
The Minister said that about 41 lakh passengers travelled through SCR for Krishna Pushkaram, and thanked the General Manager, Vijayawada Divisional Railway Manager and the Krishna Pushkaram Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for making good arrangements for the event. Ministers Kollu Ravindra, Prathipati Pulla Rao, Parliament member Gokaraju Gangaraju and railway officials participated.
A.P. will get its due from the Centre and hurdles will be cleared soon
Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu
Railway Minister
