SCR gets Rs.1,729 cr for Telangana projects

Union Budget 2017-18 presented on Wednesday has earmarked Rs 1,729 crore for Telangana which is almost three times more than what was allocated in last year’s budget.

Speaking to press persons here, South Central Railway (SCR) General Manager Vinod Kumar Yadav said the State was given Rs 601 crore for taking up different infrastructure and railway development projects last year while this year it has earmarked Rs 1,729 crore for projects in Telangana.

The SCR was looking forward at entering into an agreement with the State government for redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station, construction of a new terminal at Cherlapally and completion of MMTS phase-II, Yadav said. A similar joint venture was formed with the Andhra Pradesh government for infrastructural development in the neighbouring State, he said.

sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yadav said the SCR had 355 unmanned level crossings, out of which 170 would be done away with by March 31. The remaining 185 crossings would be removed by 2020.The SCR will soon float tenders for redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station as a world class station. Yadav said 37 stations were short-listed by the centre for redevelopment in SCR zone with Secunderabad and Vijayawada stations to be considered this year.

“It is announced in the budget that 500 stations will be made differently-abled friendly with lifts and escalators. As of now, there are 36 lifts in 15 railway stations while there are 39 escalators in 14 stations. We will provide 16 escalators in 11 stations in the forthcoming financial year,” the South Central Railway GM said.

Out of five solid waste management plants proposed for the Railways in the budget, one would be near the Secunderabad Railway Station, he said.