Doubling of Bibinagar- Guntur; Mahbubnagar-Dhone lines cleared, journey time to come down: SCR

HYDERABAD: The Union Cabinet has approved the doubling of two important railway lines that run through Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, said Arun Kumar Jain, General Manager of South Central Railway (SCR), on Thursday.

The Union Cabinet approved two large projects in the South Central Railway's jurisdiction: doubling the Mudkhed-Medchal and Mahbubnagar-Dhone sections, as well as the Guntur- Bibinagar stretch. These two projects would permit the introduction of new trains and increased freight transportation for the benefit of both Telugu states.

The projects would contribute to the socioeconomic development of the regions by stimulating economic development in the area and facilitating smooth circulation of products and people.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Ministry of Railways' proposal to double the Mudkhed- Dhone (417.88 km) section of the South Central Railway at a cost of Rs.4, 686.09 crore.

The project would improve operations and reduce congestion by delivering much-needed infrastructure upgrades in one of Indian Railways' busiest sectors. The project would turn the inhabitants of this region into 'Atmanirbhar' by establishing a multitasking workforce in the region, increasing their employment and self-employment opportunities.

The project would also benefit the 'Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana' through improving people's skills. The Mudkhed-Dhone section (417.88 km) would help relieve traffic congestion between Balharshah-Kazipet-Secunderabad and Kazipet-Vijayawada as goods traffic headed north-south may be handled via the new Double Line section.

It would be an alternate coal and steel route for Balharshah- Ramagundam- Secunderabad-Wadi-Guntakal, decongesting the existing crowded route and increasing traffic between India's southern and northern regions.

The Mudkhed- Dhone section connects the country's northern and western regions with its southern region.

Owing to the constantly rising demand, there has been a progressive increase in both freight and passenger traffic throughout the years. The Mudkhed- Dhone portion's capacity utilisation is 167 percent, resulting in the detention of both passengers and goods in this important stretch. Thus, doubling this part would help to alleviate saturation in this vital area, said Arun Kumar Jain.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs additionally approved the Ministry of Railways' proposal to double the "Guntur - Bibinagar (239.00 Km)" route on the South Central Railway at a cost of Rs. 2,853.23 crore. During construction, this project would directly employ over 75 lakh people.

The Guntur- Bibinagar stretch (239 km) connects southern and eastern India (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, and so on) to central and western India (Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, among others). It would be the shortest route, double the portion, from Secunderabad to Guntur or Vijayawada and enhance the transportation between Secunderabad and Guntur or Vijayawada.

Guntur- Bibinagar is an alternate road between Secunderabad and Vijayawada that avoids the congested and stressful routes through Kazipet, Warangal, and Khammam. Guntur - Bibinagar section line capacity utilisation is 148.25 percent.

Passenger and goods trains were suffering due to the detention in this section. Freight and passenger movement from southern and eastern India to central and western India has increased throughout the years. Doubling this segment would ease the section and make it easier to fulfil the ever-increasing transportation needs of both our passenger and freight clients.

Salient features of the projects are as detailed below

Mudkhed-Dhone Doubling project (417.88 Km)

• The proposed project would increase the existing line capacity of the section causing smoothening of the train operations and improve punctuality as well as wagon turn round time.
• It will facilitate reduction of congestion and increase of rail traffic.
• The estimated cost of this project is Rs. 4, 686.09 crore.
• The main industrial clusters/ corridors that are being served by this section includes
• Coal: Ramagundam, Mancherial & Mandamari
• Economic Corridors: Raichur-Devarkadra (EC-10), Kurnool-Pileru (EC-17), Kodangal- Mahabubnagar (EC-37), Abdullahpurpet-Chityala (EC-6), Sangareddi-Hyderabad (EC- Muthangi-Manchirevula (EC-6)
• Thermal Power Plants : MAHAGENCO at Parli, KPCC at Raichur and Yermaras in
• Karnataka, APGENCO at Muddanur in Andhra Pradesh
• Food Grains: Mudkhed,Bodhan,Nizamabad,Kamareddy, Jadcherla & Mahbubnagar, Kurnool Town
• Industrial Cluster: Hyderabad, Niazamabad, Nanded, Medak, Kurnool, Gadwal,Itikiyala, Gundlapochampally, Bahadurpally
• Warehouses & Cold storages: Nizamabad, Bodhan, Sarangapur, Bandamallaram, Mahbubnagar, Gadwal

The salient features of this Doubling project are as follows

Length of line 417.88 Km

• Estimated cross cost Rs 4, 686.09 Crs
• No of Junction Stations 06 Nos
• No of Crossing Stations 39 Nos
• No of Halt Stations 20 Nos
• State covered Maharashtra (49.15 km), Telangana (294.82 km) & Andhra Pradesh (73.91 km)
• Maximum Permissible Speed 130 Kmph
• Important bridges (Nos) 06
• Major bridges (Nos) 34
• Minor bridges (Nos) 653
• Level Crossing 117
• RUB(extension) 32
• Traction Electric (OHE2x25KV traction)

The Project passes through

Nanded district of Maharashtra; Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Medak, Medchal Malkajgiri, Mahabubnagar, Wanaparthy & Jogulamba Gadwal districts of Telangana; and Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.

Benefits

• The project eases the congestion in this critical and saturated section.
• It paves the way for introduction of new trains into the section.
• It will strengthen the connectivity between the Northern and Western part of the Country with Southern region.
• It will help in improving the average speed of the trains and reduce detentions in the section.

Guntur – Bibinagar Doubling project (239Km)

• The proposed project would increase the existing line capacity of the section causing smoothening of the train operations and improve punctuality as well as wagon turn round time.
• It will facilitate reduction of congestion and increase of rail traffic.
• The project will also generate direct employment for about 75 lakh man days during construction
• The estimated cost of this project is Rs. 2853.23 crore.

The major industrial cluster / corridors being served by the line includes

• Iron & Steel: at Chityal&Narkatpally.
• Cement Plants: at Vishnupuram, Nadikudi, Tummalacheruvu, Janpahad, Mellacheruvu, Muttampalli, Jaggayyapeta, Ramapuram etc.
• Thermal Power Plant : 4000 MW Thermal plant near Vishnupuram (upcoming)
• Food Grains: FCI siding at Nagireddipalli, Nalgonda, Miryalaguda etc.,
• Industrial cluster: Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntur, Vishnupuram, Narkatpally etc,
• Warehouses & Cold storages: More than 100 Ware houses around Hyderabad & more than 50 Cold storages around Guntur

Districts Covered

The project runs across the Andhra Pradesh districts of Guntur and Palnadu, as well as the Telangana districts of Nalgonda and Yadadadri- Bhuvanagiri. These Districts cover a total area of 23,180.38 square kilometres. In these Districts near the Project area, there are 1,070 Villages. These districts have a total population of 80,77,172 people.

Hyderabad (30 km from Bibinagar), Nalgonda, Nakrekal, Narkatpalli, Bhuvanagiri, Chityal, Miryalguda, Huzurnagar, Dachepalli, Piduguralla, Satennapalli, Guntur, and Vijayawada (30 km from Guntur) are key towns and cities around the project area.

Benefits

• This proposed doubling would allow for faster transportation of agricultural products, cement, coal, and other local items, as well as seamless movement of people throughout Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and other areas of the country.
• It would also reduce the journey time of the various trains running between Secunderabad and Guntur/Vijayawada stations.
• The Doubling of Guntur – Bibinagar section would increase the capacity of the section. Thus, more goods and passenger trains can be introduced in the system.
• The project has high socio-economic relevance for the Project Focus Zone in terms of triggering economic development in the area and facilitating smooth mobility for the goods and people.