Officials expect that the number of trains coming to Guntur, which is the main hub of Andhra Pradesh’s dream capital Amaravati, will increase in the future. In this context, keeping in mind the problems that will arise if the traffic increases, the officials have prepared proposals for the construction of a new railway line between Peracherla- Mangalgiri.
They are also planning to build a ROR (Rail Over Rail) bridge at the crossing of the two-line route from Nallapadu to Bibinagar. This bridge will allow trains to travel from below as well as from above. Such a crossing was recently built at Gudur. It is initially estimated that the construction of a total of 35 km of railway line and bridge will cost about Rs. 2,000 crores.
The General Manager of South Central Railway specifically discussed this project in a review meeting held with officials in Guntur on the 13th of this month. The officials were advised to expedite the survey work. On the other hand, many difficulties are being faced as freight is also being transported on the same routes as passenger trains.
This problem is more prevalent on the Perecherla- Vijayawada route. To provide a permanent solution to this problem, the authorities have decided to set up a dedicated freight corridor from Perecharla to Mangalagiri via Ponnekallu.
On the Guntakal route, freight trains coming from Perecharla to Guntur via Narasaraopet will be run on a new route to Mangalagiri. Similarly, trains coming from Vijayawada will come directly from Mangalagiri to Perecharla. If this corridor is made available, the congestion between Perecherla- Nallapadu- Guntur- Mangalagiri will be reduced and passengers will not have any problems.
It is expected that additional freight trains will be run. The Railway Board has sanctioned the necessary funds to complete the survey work for this project. The survey for the construction of a new railway line between Perecherla- Mangalagiri is currently in its final stages.
Similarly, the survey work for the ROR bridge is nearing completion. The officials have made arrangements to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for these two projects based on the surveys. This will be sent to the Railway Board for approval after being examined by the South Central Railway officials.
