GANJAM

- General Manager inspected Vijayawada - Gudur section

Shri Arun Kumar Jain, General Manager, South Central Railway undertook annual inspection of Vijayawada - Gudur section today i.e., 22nd December, 2022. He was accompanied by Shri Shivendra Mohan, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada Division, Principal Heads of the various Departments and other senior officials throughout the inspection.

The General Manager commenced his inspection from Level Crossing (LC) No.306 between Krishna Canal - Tenali section, he inspected safety aspects at LC gate and interacted with o­n duty Gateman. Further he under took the detailed inspection of Station Master room, examined the Panel Board and interacted with Station Master o­n working procedures related to safety, passenger amenities/facilities. He inaugurated RPF post and Sr. Section Engineer’s office complex virtually at Tenali Railway station. He also inspected Bapatla Railway station and took part in tree Plantation program to encourage green environment, inspected Staff quarters. Shri Kona Raghupati, Hon'ble MLA, Bapatla met General Manager and discussed the rail developmental issues pertaining to his constituency. He inspected 3rd line works at Chirala Railway Station. The General manager inspected a major Bridge and carried out track speed test between Chinnaganjam – Uppugundur section.

At o­ngole Railway station Shri Arun Kumar Jain inaugurated Rolling Stock Examination hut (Carriage & Wagon dept.) and virtually inaugurated Vijayawada station passengers’ amenities App, Medical Reimbursement App, News Clippings Management System and launched Grievances, References and Representations Management System, visited a stall comprising innovative/good work done by Vijayawada Division. DRM demonstrated o­n e-connect in house quarterly Railway Magazine to the General Manger. Later, he inspected improved goods shed, Health Unit and took the stock of facilities and infrastructure available, planted sapling at Health unit premises. At Singarayakonda the General Manger interacted with Track Maintainers, Gang unit no.-2, inspected newly constructed LC cum Relay Room between Singarayakonda – Ulavapadu section.

The General Manager under took the inspection of Bitragunta Railway station, planted sapling at Railway station circulating area. Further, he inaugurated 50 HP Air compressor unit for break power certification at Carriage & Wagon deport. He inspected Crew lobby and verified the facilities available at Running Room. Shri Pratap Kumar Reddy, Hon'ble MLA, Kavali met Shri Arun Kumar Jain and discussed rail developmental issues pertaining to his Constituency.

At Nellore Railway Station Shri Arun Kumar Jain inaugurated newly built RPF post and inspected new Special Judicial Magistrate Office building complex and he discussed o­n Station developmental plans with Railway Officials and Executing Agency and inspected the works in progress.

During the course of the inspection, several Public Representatives met the General Manager and submitted representations regarding passenger amenities, provision of halts, introduction of new trains etc. The General Manager also interacted with the media personnel and briefed them o­n the development plans being undertaken by SCR.

The infrastructural developments across South Central Railway Zone have picked up its pace during the current financial year including Doubling & Tripling works. Special thrust is being given towards decongesting the existing saturated routes like the Grand Trunk route to ease the rail traffic. In this direction, third line works between Karavadi – Chinnaganjam stations have been completed and commissioned for a distance of 23.5 Kms along with electrification as part of Vijayawada - Gudur Tripling & Electrification Project. This stretch of railway line falls under Bapatla and Prakasham Distrcits of Andhra Pradesh State.

Situated in the Grand Trunk route along the Coastal region of Andhra Pradesh, the section between Vijayawada – Gudur o­n SCR plays a vital role in connecting the Northern and Eastern parts of the country with the Southern states. This route has become highly congested with the steady increase in of both Passenger and Freight trains. To decongest this crucial section, the Vijayawada – Gudur Third line project was sanctioned in the year 2015-16 for a distance of 288 Kms at an approximate cost of Rs 3246 crores. The work is being executed by RVNL.

Works have been taken up simultaneously in all the stretches. The section between Ulavapadu – Kavali for a distance of 29 Kms has already been completed in March, 2021. The section between Talamanchi – Bitragunta - Sri Venkateswarapalem, for a distance of 24.8 Kms was completed and commissioned in December, 2021.The section between Sri Venkateswarapalem and Kavali for a distance of 12.2 Kms is completed in March 2022. The section between Talamanchi – Nellore for 17 Kms is completed in September, 2022. Now, with the completion of 23.5 Kms stretch between Karavadi – Chinna Ganjam, a total of 106.5 Kms of third line in Vijayawada – Gudur section stands commissioned, along with electrification.

Tripling works between Karavadi – Chinna Ganjam stations which have four stations, 11 LC gates and 3 open web girders posed challenges with each station consisting of many points & routes. These were overcome successfully with advanced signalling Systems and technicalities.

Shri Arun Kumar Jain, General Manager has complimented the entire Team of both Vijayawada Division and RVNL officials, who have completed the tripling and electrification works. He stated that special focus has been given for doubling & tripling works and hence third line works between Vijayawada - Gudur are being taken up o­n top priority and the works are in fast progress in all the stretches simultaneously. He advised RVNL & SCR officials to speed up the works further so that some more sections can be completed in this financial year.