Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sanction and support several key infrastructure projects in the states, including the second phase of the Hyderabad Metro Rail. He also highlighted Telangana’s commitment to contribute $1 trillion to India’s aim to become a $5 trillion economy. Reddy also pointed out the need for enhanced railway infrastructure to drive economic growth.
PM Modi inaugurated several railway projects including the new Cherlapally terminal station in Hyderabad and Jammu railway division during a virtual event. Reddy extended his gratitude for the new terminal while also calling for more development projects. He also pointed out that Telangana has tumbled from second to ninth slot in terms of metro rail network length because of the slowdown in the expansion plan over the last decade.
The Chief Minister appealed to the Centre to expedite the establishment of the integrated railway coach factory at Kazipet, a project earlier granted for Telangana. He also sought a dedicated railway line from Machilipatnam port in Andhra Pradesh to Telangana. He also recognized the state’s landlocked status and the need for improved freight transport. Moreover, Reddy also suggested the development of a dry port and the execution of a regional ring rail alongside Hyderabad’s Regional Ring Road (RRR). He believes that this project will accelerate urbanization in 60 percent of the state.
Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna outlined the Centre’s growing investment in Telangana’s railway sector, citing an increased railway budget allocation. In the last ten years, the state has got 346 km of new railway lines, has doubled and tripled 370 km of tracks and electrification of over 1,000 km has also been completed.
The Cherlapally terminal is anticipated to reduce the congestion at Hyderabad’s existing stations, Kacheguda, Hyderabad, and Secunderabad at a cost of Rs 430 crore. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy stated that currently, 40 railway stations in Telangana are undergoing modernization, as part of a nationwide plan to revamp more than 1,300 stations. Kazipet rail manufacturing unit which is near completion is expected to create 3,000 direct jobs.
Somanna also clarified that road development comes under the state government’s jurisdiction. He also stated that the Centre’s willingness to expand Hyderabad’s Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) to Yadagirigutta depends on state government land acquisition. Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Verma, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar along with several other dignitaries attended the event.
(With inputs from PTI)