Rajamahendravaram: People angry over meagre allocation for Kotipalli-Narasapur railway line project

Rajamahendravaram: The people in Konaseema in East Godavari district are expressing their anger over the meagre allocation of Rs 551 crore in the Budget for Kotipalli-Narasapur railway line. The allocation, though not mentioned in the Budget, figured in the pink book.

Hopes of people that the works on the railway line would be completed by 2021 was shattered because of meagre allocation of funds for the project. The project is a long- cherished dream that remains unfilled for the last 20 years.

So far, as many as 276 acres of land was acquired as against of 908 acres required for the railway line, of 791 acres in East Godavari and 118 acres in West Godavari district. The 57 km railway line is estimated to cost Rs 2,120 kms and so far, as much as Rs 326 crore was spent. Out of 57 km railway line. the distance between Narsapur and Chinchinada is 10 kms, between Kotipalli and Amalapuram 12.70 km and Amalapuram and Chinchinada 33.89 km. The South-Central Railway proposed to complete the project in three phases.

Three bridges need to be constructed as part of Kotipalli-Narsapur railway line across the rivers, Gowthami, Vynateya and Vasishta. Though the contract for work on the bridge across Gowthami was given in 2017, across Vynateya and Vasista in 2018, the works are going at snail's pace.

In 2015 Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to speed up all pending railway projects in the country and in 2016-2017, Rs 184.64 crore was allotted to Kotipalli- Narsapur railway line. The railway line, when completed, will help transport Rs 500 crore worth of products. Oil and gas production is a major activity in the region. With the initiative of former Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi, the project was launched. Former Union Minister for Railways Mamatha Banerjee laid foundation stone for the project 25 years ago.