• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Port Info

• Ships in Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• The Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , March 21

THE long wait for the 114-km railway line between Obulavaripalli and Krishnapatnam seems to be over with the Minister of State for Railways, Mr R. Velu, hinting at an early clearance by the Railway Board for the proposal.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Mr Velu termed the project as bankable and viable. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) would be set up to take up the project.

The proposed line would make it economical for iron exporters cheaper as it reduced distance between iron ore-generating stations of Hospet-Bellary sector and ports.

The Minister was here to flag off the tri-weekly Secunderabad-Nizamuddin Sampark Kranti Express. The express would stop only at some stations (Kazipet, Ramagundam and Sirpur Kagaznagar) in Andhra Pradesh before reaching Delhi.

The train starts at Secunderabad (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at 6.30 p.m. and reach the destination at 8.40 the following day. The down train starts at Nizamuddin (Thursday, Saturday and Monday) at 10.30 a.m. and reaches Secunderabad at 7.25 a.m. the next day.

He said the Mudhked-Adilabad section had been recognised as a strategic one for freight traffic. "This needs special attention," he added.

Obviously referring to the criticism by the Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh on "lesser allotments" to the State, Mr Velu said the State got far higher allotments in terms of finances and route kilometres.

While the 2004-05 Budget earmarked 72 km of electrification, this year the Railways sanctioned funds to electrify 166 km. With regard to the second phase of MMTS (Multi-Modal Transport System), the Minister said the second phase of the project would get funds.

Asked whether the proposed metro train services would hamper the prospects of MMTS, he said the two systems of transport were complementary.

"There is no competition. As the city grows, there will be more demand for a variety of transport systems," he explained.

Mr D.N. Mathur, General Manager of South Central Railway, said the zone would run special trains to meet the summer rush. There would be 82 summer specials.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
In-principle nod to restructure metro airports: Patel

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line