CM Revanth Reddy Seeks Fast-Track for Telangana High-Speed Rail
CM Revanth Reddy meets Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to expedite Hyderabad-Pune, Bengaluru, and Chennai high-speed rail corridors.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has made a strong push for the rapid development of rail infrastructure in the state. During a high-level meeting with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Rail Bhavan in New Delhi, the CM urged the central government to expedite work on several critical high-speed rail projects announced for the region.
Focus on High-Speed Corridors
The Chief Minister highlighted the urgent need for swift action on the proposed high-speed rail corridors connecting Hyderabad to Pune, Bengaluru, and Chennai. He informed the Union Minister that the state government has already reviewed the proposals sent by the Centre and has submitted revised versions containing specific suggestions to optimize the routes.
A major bottleneck discussed was the land acquisition process. CM Revanth Reddy clarified that the state government has not yet initiated land acquisition for these three corridors because the process can only begin once the central government officially approves the alignment. He requested that the alignment process be completed as soon as possible to allow work to proceed.
Expanding the Regional Rail Network
Beyond high-speed connectivity, the meeting covered several vital projects aimed at boosting local connectivity and industrial growth:
- Vikarabad–Krishna Line: The CM requested the immediate sanction of a new 130 km railway line between Vikarabad and Krishna.
- Regional Ring Rail: Reddy emphasized the importance of developing a 'Regional Ring Rail' to run alongside the 360 km Regional Ring Road (RRR) currently under construction around Hyderabad, noting its potential for massive employment generation.
- Industrial Development: The CM informed the Minister about large limestone deposits discovered near Tekalkode in the Vikarabad district. The state plans to transform this area into a major cement and textile hub, which will require enhanced rail access.
Proposed New Railway Lines for Approval
To further strengthen the state's connectivity, the Chief Minister requested the immediate approval of several key railway lines:
- Dornakal–Gadwal
- Kalwakurthy–Macherla
- Kacheguda–Jaggayyapeta (250 km)
- Patancheru–Adilabad (320 km)
- Bodhan–Latur (175 km)
- Akannapet bypass line (8 km)
Mega Maintenance Depot at Anantaram
The Chief Minister also appealed for the quick approval of a mega coaching and freight maintenance depot, a prestigious project proposed by the South Central Railway. The facility is planned for Anantaram village, near Mahabubabad.
To demonstrate the state's commitment, CM Revanth Reddy informed the Union Minister that Telangana has already agreed to hand over 409 acres and 1 gunta of land required for the establishment of this depot. He urged the Centre to expedite the necessary approvals to get this massive project underway.