Providing railway connection to capital city Amaravati is moving on a war foot after the formation of new government, as it was shelved to cold storage during YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime. Now the railway authorities are concentrating on land acquisition.
They have identified that 510 acres of land is required for the new railway line of Amaravati, with an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore. Less than 15 days ago, the railway department sent proposals to the revenue authorities of the three districts for 296.86 acres in NTR district, 155 acres in Guntur district and 60 acres in Khammam district of Telangana.
But due to Krishna and Budameru floods they could not focus on it. Revenue officials are expected to have a meeting with the Railway officials soon on land acquisition. According to the request of the state government, the railway department has agreed to bear this cost.
In connection with Amaravati railway line, land acquisition has to be done near Errupalem in Khammam district, in Kanchikacherla and Veerulapadu mandals in NTR district, Kotta Peta, Vadlamanu, Tadikonda, Koppavaram and Nambur areas in Guntur district.
Similarly, 24.5 km from Amaravati to Pedakurapadu, 25 km from Sattenapalli to Narasa Raopet. All these will be undertaken as a single project. While the survey was conducted seven years ago, in 2017-18, estimates were made at a cost of Rs.2,800 crore. But, the YCP government that came to power in 2019 has neglected the Amaravati railway line project.
Now, with the coming of the NDA government again, the way for this railway line has been paved. The railways have also included this project in its priority list. If the farmers are not willing to give up the land voluntarily, the revenue administration intends to collect it under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
Meanwhile, the Railways are not considering the proposals coming to develop the Amaravati Railway Station through the new railway line connecting the Krishna Canal through Vijayawada. It is expected to proceed according to the old alignment, though it can reduce the cost of land acquisition by 30 percent.