Preliminaries appear to be fast apace to ground the project of upgrading Tirupati railway station as a ‘world class’ station with amenities matching global standards. The project was not only cleared but was also included in the Railway budget for the current fiscal.
Even as the Revenue and Railway officials are on a hunt for a huge chunk of 300 acres site in and around Tirupati to ground the project, Minister of State for Railways Muniyappa on Sunday reviewed with officials the survey currently underway to identify the land and complete other related works.
Talking to mediapersons, Mr. Muniyappa sounded optimistic about completing the survey within three months and grounding the work.
Indications are that with no such land available anywhere around Tirupati, the government might ultimately reconcile to the 150-acre site available at Surappakasum and initiate the proceedings to secure the land. As for other developmental works, the Minister said that in all about Rs.9.2 crore worth works were proposed at the Tirupati railway station to improve passenger amenities and give a facelift to the Tirupati station. The works include, providing escalators at platforms, granite flooring and VDC on all platforms, shifting of the parcel office and RMS unit towards Renigunta end to decongest the area, improvements to drinking water pedestals, approach road to south-end entrance and provision of concourse and parking lots. Mr. Muniyappa said that he would be convening a meeting at Hyderabad on August, 21 with senior officials to review all the developmental works in progress in the State. He is also likely to meet Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in this connection.
The Minister said a week-end express between Secunderabad and Tirupati would be introduced soon to meet the rush.
At Tirumala where the Minister offered prayers in the hill temple, the TTD Executive Officer I.Y.R. Krishna Rao and Trust Board Chairman D.K. Adikesavulu sought his help in improving pilgrim amenities at Tirupati and Renigunta railway stations.
