Union Minister G Kishan Reddy Thanks PM Modi and Railways Minister for New Telangana Rail Line
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving a new rail line in Telangana. Reddy shared that this new railway line will make travel easier and more efficient, while also boosting agriculture, business, and tourism, contributing to the socio-economic development of the region.
The Union Cabinet recently approved eight new railway projects covering seven states and 800 km, with a total cost of Rs 24,657 crore. One of these projects addresses a long-pending demand for a railway line at Bhadrachalam in Telangana. The 173-kilometre-long Bhadrachalam – Malkangiri project is estimated to cost around Rs 4,109 crores and will connect Bhadrachalam Temple Town with the mainline rail network.
The initial section between Malkangiri and Bhadrachalam (147.5 km) will be extended to Pandurangapuram (26.1 km). This new line will connect the South Central Railway (Pandurangapuram) to the East Coast Railway (Junagarh), opening a new corridor. It will facilitate passenger movement from Telangana to Orissa via Chhattisgarh and vice versa, boosting multiple sectors like agriculture, business, education, tourism, and healthcare.
The project will also create an alternate trade route from southern Odisha and Chhattisgarh to Southern India, reducing the distance from deep-sea ports in Andhra Pradesh to mines and plants in Odisha and Chhattisgarh by about 140 km. It will provide the shortest passenger route from Chhattisgarh to Vijayawada and Hyderabad, saving travel time and cost.
Additionally, with the National Waterway NW5 under construction, there is potential to link this railway project to the NW-5 project for multimodal transport. The project is expected to attract substantial traffic from NH-326 to the railway network, enhancing logistic efficiency. It will also help with cargo evaluation for ports under the AP Maritime Board, such as Krishnapatnam, Machilipatnam, and the upcoming Ramayapatnam port.
Earlier, Telangana received top priority in railway budget allocations. In the 2023-24 budget, Rs 4,418 crores were allocated for railway development in Telangana, and in the recent 2024-25 budget, Rs 5,336 crores were allocated.
Doubts Revealed
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a member of the central government in India who is in charge of a specific department or ministry, like railways or education.
G Kishan Reddy -: G Kishan Reddy is a politician from India who is currently serving as a Union Minister. He is responsible for certain government duties and decisions.
PM Modi -: PM Modi refers to Narendra Modi, who is the Prime Minister of India. He is the head of the government and makes important decisions for the country.
Railways Minister -: The Railways Minister is the person in charge of the Ministry of Railways in India. This person oversees the railway network and its development.
Ashwini Vaishnaw -: Ashwini Vaishnaw is the current Railways Minister of India. He is responsible for managing and improving the railway services in the country.
Telangana -: Telangana is a state in southern India. It was formed in 2014 and has its own government and administrative setup.
Union Cabinet -: The Union Cabinet is a group of senior ministers chosen by the Prime Minister. They make important decisions and policies for the country.
173-km line -: A 173-km line refers to a new railway track that is 173 kilometers long. It will connect two places, Bhadrachalam and Malkangiri, in Telangana.
Bhadrachalam -: Bhadrachalam is a town in the state of Telangana, known for its famous temple dedicated to Lord Rama.
Malkangiri -: Malkangiri is a district in the state of Odisha, which is close to Telangana. The new rail line will connect it to Bhadrachalam.
Rs 4,109 crores -: Rs 4,109 crores is a large amount of money, specifically 4,109 crore rupees. This is the cost of building the new railway line.
socio-economic development -: Socio-economic development means improving both the social and economic conditions of a place. This includes better jobs, education, and living standards.
