Survey for new railway line to Amaravati on fast track.

Officials of the Vijayawada and Guntur railway divisions are gearing up to begin survey for the proposed new line to Amaravati in the wake of the Railway Board's recent nod for the study.

With this the process of establishing the much-needed connectivity to the capital city from Vijayawada and Guntur is going to get on to the fast track.

Top officials of South Central Railway are making necessary arrangements for the survey, which is expected to be completed this financial year itself.

Two specific proposals to link Amaravati from New Guntur and Mangalagiri stations in Guntur district and Rayanapadu and Kondapalli stations near Vijayawada are under examination.

According to official sources, the cost of land acquisition is going to be significantly high than the expenditure entailed by creation of physical infrastructure that comprises tracks and other equipment, as vast tracts of multi-cropped fields have to be acquired.

Construction of a kilometre of a high-speed track is estimated to cost not less than Rs.100 crore.

THE HINDU