Railway Budget 2020: Rs 1,198 Cr for Nadikudi-Srikalahasti rail line
By Newsmeter Network Published on 6 Feb 2020 4:28 AM GMTHighlights
- Rs. 664 Cr for Vijayawada-Gudur third line project
Nellore: Decks have been cleared for the construction of railway line between Nadikudi and Srikalahasti after Centre earmarked Rs. 1,198 Crore in the Railway Budget for the project.
With an estimated cost of Rs. 1,314 core, the new railway line between Nadikudi and Srikalahasti was proposed in 2010 to promote cement and granite industries in the region. The rail line could provide an alternate and shortest route to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka from the State. It passes through four districts.
The State government has expressed its interest to provide land free of cost and bear 50 percent of the cost of the proposed 308-kilometre railway line between Nadikudi and Srikalahasti. As per GO MS No 3 dated Jan 5, 2016, land acquisition for the project in the Nellore district has begun.
Under the first phase, work on 47 kilometre stretch between Piduguralla to Savalyapuram was halted at some stretches due to pending court cases. However, the High Court recently gave clearance to the Railways which paved the way for the resumption of the work.
The railway line will connect Srikalahasti, Venkatagiri, Rapur, Obulayapalli, Podili, Darsi, Gundlakamma, Vinukonda, Rompicherla, Nakerakal and Nadikudi.
Further, the railway budget allocated Rs. 664 Cr for Vijayawada-Gudur third line project which was sanctioned in 2015-16 for a distance of 288 km with an estimated cost of Rs. 3,246 Crore.