Secunderabad Railway Station To Be Redeveloped

The Union Budget 2017-18 allocated Rs. 1,729 crores for Telangana's welfare, almost three times more than what was allocated in last year's Budget.

Speaking to the media, South Central Railway (SCR) General Manager Vinod Kumar Yadav claimed that the State was given only Rs. 601 crores last year for taking up various infrastructure and railway development projects while this year, it was allocated Rs. 1,729 crores.

The SCR said that with this budget, it could go ahead with its plan of remodelling and revamping the Secunderabad Railway Station, constructing a new terminal at Cherlapally, and complete phase-II of the MMTS works. A similar joint venture was formed with the Andhra Pradesh government for infrastructural development in the neighbouring State, he said. The SCR wanted to enter into an agreement with the State government for the same.

As per reports, the SCR will soon float tenders for the redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station as a world-class station. Yadav said that 37 stations were short-listed by the Centre for the redevelopment in the SCR zone, with Secunderabad and Vijayawada stations being the major ones.

"It has been announced in the budget that 500 stations will be made disabled-friendly with lifts and escalators. As of now, there are 36 lifts in 15 railway stations and 39 escalators in 14 stations. We will provide 16 escalators in 11 stations in the forthcoming financial year," the SCR 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.