Telangana govt urges extension of rail network to Yadadri shrine

Hyderabad: Telangana government on Friday requested the Railway Ministry for extending rail network to the pilgrim centre of Yadagirigutta (Yadadri) in Nalgonda district of the state, as part of the ongoing phase-II works of Multi Modal Transportation System (MMTS).

The Telangana government also offered to bear two-thirds of the estimated project worth Rs 330 crore.

In a letter addressed to Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao requested him to include extension of MMTS services from Ghatkesar to Raigir (Yadadri) on a cost sharing basis (state government will bear two-thirds of the cost and the railways the rest) in the Railway budget for the year 2016-17.

Chief Minister informed that the government of Telangana is in the process of developing Yadadri, a holy hill shrine located at about 60 km from Hyderabad, as a mega pilgrimage and spiritual hub.

The CM mentioned that the government has acquired more than 2,000 acres of land for developing the whole area on the lines of Tirupati with very good amenities for the devotees, an official release said.

Explaining the need for extension of MMTS, the CM wrote that, Yadadri temple has a railway line passing nearby with a halt station called Raigir on Secunderabad - Kazipet Section.

Rao said that the MMTS services in and around Hyderabad city have become very popular and currently phase-II of MMTS is under implementation.

One of the stretches of MMTS phase-II is between Secunderabad station and Ghatkesar (21 KM) and this is expected to be completed in financial year 2016-17.

The phase-II MMTS can further be extended from Ghatkesar to Raigir (32 KM) by laying a third Railway line with attendant signaling works etc. and Raigir station can be renamed and developed as 'Yadadri' station, the release said.

Detailing about the pilgrim strength at Yadadri, CM mentioned that, at the current initial stage of implementation of Yadadri Temple Development Authority's Master Plan, daily about 20,000 people are visiting Yadadri from Hyderabad during week days and between 40,000 to 50,000 persons during weekends.

Once the Master Plan is fully implemented in the next few years, the pilgrim passengers going to Yadadri from Hyderabad are expected to cross over a lakh per day.

Since already severe traffic congestion is being experienced on the highway between Hyderabad and Yadadri, Rao said that it is felt extension of MMTS services to Yadadri is an urgent necessity to cater to the travel needs of pilgrims and to reduce pollution levels.

An estimate has been prepared for extension of MMTS services for about 32 km from Ghatkesar to Raigir (Yadadri), which is working out to about Rs 330 crores.

The proposed extension will also be beneficial for Indian Railways, since laying of an additional rail line will substantially augment the line capacity and help the Railways to run more passenger and goods trains on this important Secunderabad-Kazipet section of Secunderabad-New Delhi rail corridor, the release added.

PTI