The South Central Railway (SCR) authorities have proposed two sites for setting up of the ‘Rail Neer Bottling Plant’ (water purification plant) in Krishna District. The project, aimed at supplying processed water, will begin in six months.
Railway officials have offered two stretches of land, in an extent of two acres – the Krishna Canal and at Duggirala village. A team of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) recently visited the sites and a report would be submitted to the Railway Ministry, said the SCR officials.
Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal announced sanction of a Rail Neer project to Vijayawada in 2013-14 Railway Budget. The IRCTC maintains Rail Neer Bottling Plants at a few stations across the country. Once operational, the plant would enable the Indian Railways to supply quality water at an affordable price to the passengers on platforms and on moving trains, said Vijayawada Divisional Railway Manager Pradeep Kumar.
“We offered land close to a water body to the IRCTC, which will finalise the place for setting up of the water plant. Once the land is finalised, the construction work will start. The new plant will process 1.8 lakh litres per day”, Mr. Pradeep Kumar told The Hindu .
Outlets
The IRCTC will buy space from the SCR for setting up outlets on platforms for selling the bottled water. More than 70 stalls will come up across 10 platforms at Vijayawada railway station.
“For allocation of platform space, the SCR will collect charges as per norms. The issue will be discussed with officers of the departments concerned and the IRCTC representatives keeping in mind the convenience of the passengers”, said the DRM.
