RUB delay putting denizens to hardships

Tirupati: The proposal for railway under bridge (RUB) at Rayalacheruvu gate in the heart of Tirupati has become a non-starter. For the last one year, the state government has not evinced any interest though the South Central Railway said it is ready for its construction.

The SCR, in fact, is in a hurry to complete the project on a fast-track. Though both the state and railways agreed to take up the project, the main hindrance was the release of the budget to undertake works.

Besides, the civic authorities have to take up the diversion works of main drainage to facilitate railway authorities to go ahead with the construction for which they have been waiting for several months.

Both the railway and civic authorities have made several inspections at the railway gate but there has been no progress. In May this year, State Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar visited Tirupati and discussed the project with the railway, revenue and municipal authorities and felt that the RUB works at Rayalacheruvu gate should not be delayed any further.

The railway authorities have been saying that they are ready to call tenders for the RUB provided the drain is diverted. South Central Railway General Manager Vinod Kumar Yadav and Guntakal DRM Vijay Prathap Singh have made several visits and held parleys with all officials concerned on this particular railway gate along with other issues.

The RUB is much sought-after facility as it connects the north and south sides of the city. In the absence of an RUB, the residents of the city find it difficult to move from one side to the other say they have to wait at the railway level crossing which is closed as many as 80 times a day as Tirupati is a major railway station.

According to railways, when the gate is closed which is for about 15 minutes each time, the entire road on either side is packed with vehicles, with drivers cursing their fate for having to negotiate the level crossing. The gate has to be closed for the trains between Tirupati and Katpadi and goods trains in this direction.

Also, gate needs to be closed for shunting purposes. The city has been growing at fast rate on the south side while the development in north has reached saturation point. The big modern commercial establishments are in the south, while various government institutions and TTD administrative building being located in the North.

An estimated 2.5 lakh vehicles pass through the gate every day. In fact, the civic authorities should be going after the railways for its construction but even though railways want an RUB constructed, the authorities have not yet realised its importance. Even former MP V Varaprasad also took up the issue with the railways, corporation and TUDA officials. He came forward to allocate funds from his MP LADS and met the Union Railway Minister in this regard.

SCR GM VK Yadav told The Hans India that he had met the Chief Secretary of AP in August and very recently a formal approval has come from the government. He expressed hope that they can initiate further steps before long. However, providing approach road and diversion of drain will become major hurdles to make things move faster.