Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday urged South Central Railway officials to fast-track the planning and execution of a new railway line to run alongside the proposed 12-lane greenfield highway connecting Bharat Future City in Hyderabad to Bandar Port in Andhra Pradesh via Amaravati.
The CM also suggested that officials revisit the survey and alignment proposals for other major high speed rail projects, including the HyderabadChennai and Hyderabad-Bengaluru corridors, in light of the new highway development.
At a review meeting, the CM emphasised that this project must be implemented as part of the rapid rail and road connectivity initiative promised in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. The state govt has already submitted a 300-km alignment proposal for the highway and has requested the Centre to approve and execute the project.
“The railway alignment should be designed in coordination with both the ongoing studies and the state’s proposal to ensure that it meets future transportation needs as well as industrial and logistical requirements,” the CM said. The railway development, Revanth explained, should support not just passenger transport but also facilitate industrial growth, tourism, and regional development.
“There are already proposals to extend an industrial corridor up to 1.5 km on both sides of the highway. The railway line should be designed to complement this and ensure smooth and efficient connectivity,” he said.
He also underscored the necessity of constructing a railway line along the proposed 362-km Regional Ring Road around Hyderabad, explaining how it would reshape the metropolitan landscape and bolster economic activity in the region.
Revanth also urged the railway authorities to expedite the process and said the state govt was ready to support the projects by facilitating land acquisition and providing necessary funds. “Project alignments should be prepared keeping in mind long-term requirements, minimising distances and reducing costs,” he said.
The CM also recommended that the Vikarabad-Krishna railway line be completed as quickly as possible and that the detailed project report for the Gadwal-Dornakal section be finalised without delay. He also called for expanding railway development in Warangal by exploring new routes from Bhupalpally and upgrading Kazipet junction to meet growing passenger demand.
“Rail connectivity must complement urban and industrial development, ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth across the state,” he said, reiterating the govt’s commitment to working closely with railway authorities to achieve these goals.
SCR general manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, Warangal MP Kadiyam Kavya, CM’s advisor Vem Narender Reddy, and roads and buildings special secretary Vikas Raj attended the meeting.
Reddy also favoured a railway line which would connect to the greenfield highway from the proposed ‘Bharat Future City’ here to the Machilipatnam port in Andhra Pradesh via the latter’s capital city of Amaravati.