Saturday, November 15, 2008

YSR seeks funds for MMTS Phase-II

YSR seeks funds for MMTS Phase-II
: Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today urged the Central Government to sanction funds for the proposed Phase-II of Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) for the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
Though the Phase-I of MMTS was completed and commissioned four years ago, the proposed Phase-II has been kept pending for the Central Government’s approval even as the State Government has agreed to share 75 per cent of the project cost.
Reddy held a review meeting over the ongoing railway projects and pending proposals for new railway lines and trains in the State. In view of the ensuing Railway Budget 2009-10, the Chief Minister wrote a letter to Union Minister for Railway Lalu Prasad Yadav requesting for sanctioning of new railway lines and trains. He also urged for an increase in allocations of funds upto Rs 1,000 crore for the ongoing as well as other pending projects.
In his letter, the Chief Minister urged the Union Minister for Railways to sanction new railway lines between Kadapa-Bangalore via Madanapalli, Manugur-Ramagundam, Nadikudi- Srikalahasti, and Bhadrachalam-Kovvur.
He requested for a new line connecting Medak to the Secunderabad- Nizamabad line at Akkanapet and Medchal.
The Chief Minister also urged for doubling and electrification of railway lines between Vijayawada-Gudivada- Machilipatnam-Bhimavaram/Narsapur- Nidadavolu, Bibinagar-Nadikudi/ Macherla-Nallapadu (Guntur) and Guntur- Tenali-Repalle.
In the letter, the Chief Minister also urged for introduction of new daily Overnight Super Fast Express trains from the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam, Bangalore, Mumbai (via Wadi) and Adilabad, a new Express train from the twin cities to Ahmedabad (via Nizamabad), a direct Express train from the twin cities to Goa, and an intercity day Express between Visakhapatnam and Tirupati.
Introduction of new Circular Electric Multiple Unit services on Tirupati- Nellore-Chennai circuit and Vijayawada- Guntur-Tenali circuit, and Diesel Multiple Unit services between Hyderabad/ Secunderabad and Miryalaguda and between Hyderabad/Secunderabad and Mahabubnagar have also been sought. A request was also made to extend the Secunderabad-Kurnool Town (Tungabhadra Express) to Kadapa, the Kacheguda-Egmore Express to Trivandrum (via Madurai) and the Hyderabad- Nizamuddin Express to Amritsar.
The Chief Minister has sought approval of proposals to set up a Coach Rehabilitation Workshop at Nandalur and POH facilities at Kazipet. He assured to provide sufficient land and other facilities for establishing the facilities.
He requested the Union Railway Minister to ensure provision of adequate funds to initiate large scale development in the State.