- Allocation of Rs. 4,418 crore to Telangana State, which is 45% more than last year

- Allocation of Rs. 8,406 crore to Andhra Pradesh State, which is 20% more than last year

- SCR has been allocated staggering amount of Rs. 13,786.19 crores in budget 2023-24, which is nearly 65% increase over last year

- Shri Arun Kumar Jain, General Manager, SCR briefs media o­n Budget Highlights

The General Budget 2023-24, which includes the Railways, was presented o­n the floor of the Parliament o­n 01st February, 2023. The Pink book, a compendium containing all the details about the infrastructure works, demands for grants and comprehensive details of budgetary allocations for carrying out various works in Railways, has been tabled in the Parliament today i.e., 03rd February, 2023. Shri Arun Kumar Jain, General Manager, South Central Railway held a Press Meet today at Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad to highlight the Budgetary allocations of South Central Railway for 2023-2024, the details of which are as below:-

Highlights of Railway Budget pertaining to South Central Railway

SCR has been sanctioned a staggering Gross amount of Rs. 13,786.19 Crores for the year 2023-24 compared to Rs. 8,349.75 Crore for the year 2022-23, nearly 65% increase over last year:

· For Doubling, Third Line and Bypass line works, the Capital Outlay is Rs 3,374.44 crs, when compared to Rs 1,531 Crore in the last year.

· For New lines, the total budgetary grant including Capital and Safety Fund (excl Deposit) is Rs 819 Crore, when compared to Rs 285 Crore in the last year.

· For electrification works, the budgetary grant is Rs. 588 crs.

The budget allocations for some of the important Safety related works during 2023-24 include –

Ø Rs 768.14 Crores for Road Safety Works (Level Crossings, Bridges and ROB/RUB), as compared to allocation of Rs 758 crores during the previous year.

Ø Rs 1,360 Crores for Track Renewal works, as compared to allocation of Rs 1,040 crores during the previous year.

Ø An amount of Rs. 68.34 Crores has been allocated for implementation of Kavach i.e., the indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). New Sections: Wadi-Renigunta, Duvvada-Vijayawada, Balharshah-Vijayawada-Gudur, Manmad- Parbhani- Nanded- Secunderabad- Gadwal- DhoneGuntakal, Bidar-Parli Vaijnath-Parbhani and Wadi-Guntakal.

The Budgetary Allocations for some of the important o­ngoing New Line Projects over SCR & their current status are as follows:

Ø Rs. 345 Crore allotted for Munirabad–Mahbubnagar new line project. The project was sanctioned in the year 1997-98 for a distance of 244 kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 1,723 Crore. Out of 244 Kms, 68 kms falls under the jurisdiction of SCR (Telangana State) and the sanctioned cost for that portion is Rs 452 Crore. The remaining portion of 178 Kms belongs to SWR (Karnataka State). The section between Devarakadra –Maganoor for a distance of 54 Kms has been completed and commissioned. The works between Krishna – Maganoor, the portion of SCR for a distance of 14 Km are completed and is due for CRS certification.

Ø Rs. 202 Crore allotted for Nadikudi–Srikalahasti new line project. The project was sanctioned in the year 2011-12 for a distance of 309 Kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs.2, 289 Crore. 50% of the project cost is to be borne by the Govt. of AP, while giving land free of cost. The section between New Piduguralla to Savalyapuram for a distance of 46 kms is completed and commissioned along with electrification. Works are in progress in remaining sections.

Ø Rs. 185 Crore allotted for Manoharabad–Kothapalli new line project. The project was sanctioned in the year 2006-07 for a distance of 151 Kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 1,160 Crore. This is a cost sharing project with Govt. of Telangana. Accordingly, 1/3rd cost will be shared by Govt of Telangana and land will be given by them at free of cost. The first phase of the project from Manoharabad – Kodakandla for a distance of 44 kms is completed. Balance works are in fast progress.

Ø Rs. 100 Crore allotted for Kotipalli–Narsapur new line project. The project was sanctioned in the year 2000-01 for a distance of 57 Kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 2,120 Crore. 25% of the project cost would be shared by the Govt of AP. The new line works in this section involves construction of important major bridges o­n Gowthami, Vynatheya and Vashista rivers, which are in progress.

Ø Rs. 100 Crore allotted for Bidar - Nanded new line project. The project was sanctioned in the year 2018-19 for a distance of 155 Kms at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 2152 Crores. The project is proposed to take up by taking the consent for 50% of the project cost would be shared by the Govt of Karnataka and Govt of Maharashtra with land being given free of cost.

Ø Rs. 20 Crore has been allotted for Bhadrachalam - Kovvur new line project. The project was sanctioned in the year 2012-13 for a distance of 151 Kms at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 1,445 Crores and later revised to Rs 2,154.83 Crore.

Ø Rs. 10 Crores has been allotted for Manuguru - Ramagundam New Line Project. The project was sanctioned in the year 2013-14 for a distance of 200 Kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 1,112 Crore and later o­n revised to Rs 2911 Crores.

The allocations for some of the important Doubling / Third Line as well By-Pass line projects and their status is as follows:

Ø Rs. 600 Crore allotted for MMTS Phase II project which was sanctioned in the year 2012-13 with the sanctioned cost Rs. 817 Crore. The Sections completed till date are - Malkajgiri – Bolarum Double Line Electrification for 14 Kms, Telapur – Ramchandrapuram for 6 Kms, Medchal-Bolarum doubling for 14 Kms, Moula Ali – Ghatkesar Quadrupling for 12.2 Kms, Falaknuma-Umdanagar Doubling for 13.5 Kms. Currently, works are underway in two more sections, which include - Sanath Nagar to Moula Ali Doubling with Electrification and Moula Ali – Malkajgiri – Sitafal Mandi Doubling with Electrification.

Ø Rs. 800 Crore allotted for Vijayawada – Gudur 3rd line project. The 3rd Line project was sanctioned in the year 2015-16 for a distance of 288 kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 3549 Crore. Execution of works has been commenced in three phases between Gudur- Bitragunta, Karavadi - Bitragunta and Krishna Canal - Karavadi simultaneously. The section between Ulavapadu - Talamanchi for a distance of 64 Kms and section between Chinaganjam - Karavadi for a distance of 23 Kms (totaling to 87 Kms) has been completed. Balance works are in fast progress.

Ø Rs. 980 Crore allotted for Guntur – Guntakal doubling project. The doubling project was sanctioned in the year 2016-17 for a distance of 404 kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 3,631 Crore. Out of this, 159 kms of doubling and electrification works between Nallapadu – Satalur, Edduladoddi– Dhone and Cheekateegalapalem - Tarlupadu have been completed, while the works in the remaining stretches are also progressing well.

Ø Rs. 337.52 Crore allotted for Kazipet – Vijayawada 3rd line project. The 3rd Line project was sanctioned in the year 2012-13 for a distance of 220 kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 1,953 Crore. The section between Vijayawada - Cheruvumadhavram for a distance of 19.2 Kms is completed. The works in the remaining sections are also progressing well.

Ø Rs. 450.86 Crore allotted for Kazipet – Balharshah 3rd line project (excl Raghavapuram – Mandamarri). The 3rd Line project sanctioned in the year 2015-16 for a distance of 201 kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 2,063 Crore. Out of this, 50 kms of tripling and electrification works Raghavapuram – Potkapalli and Wirur – Manikgarh have been completed. The works in the remaining sections are progressing in fast pace.

Ø Rs. 90.6 Crore allotted for Gooty – Dharmavaram doubling project. The doubling project was sanctioned in the year 2015-16 for a distance of 90 kms with a sanctioned

cost of Rs. 714 Crore. Out of this, 79 kms doubling works between Gooty – Chigicherla have been completed and commissioned. The works in the final stretch of the project between Chigicherla - Dharmavaram for 11 Kms is nearing completion.

Ø Rs. 100 Crores allotted for Vijayawada – Gudivada / Machilipatnam-Bhimavaram / Narsapur–Nidadavolu doubling and electrification. The doubling project was sanctioned in the year 2011-12 for a distance of 221 kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 1,504 Crore. The doubling and electrification works in the entire section have been completed recently.

Ø Rs. 40 Crore allotted for Dharamavaram -Pakala - Katpadi Doubling project. The project was sanctioned in 2019-20 for a distance of 290 Kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 2,900 Crore.

Ø Rs. 60 crores Crore allotted for Guntur - Bibinagar Doubling project. The project was sanctioned in 2019-20 for a distance of 248 Kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 2,480 Crore.

Ø Rs. 60 Crore allotted for Akola-Dhone Doubling project via Mudkhed and Secunderabad (Excl Purna – Mudkhed and Bolarum - Mahabubnagar): The project was sanctioned in 2019-20 for a distance of 612 Kms with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 6,260 Crore. The detailed estimate is prepared for execution of the project between Mudkhed - Dhone by excluding the already completed section between Bolaram - Mahbubnagar as per the instructions of Railway Board. Detailed estimate of the project submitted to Railway Board.

Ø Rs. 383.12 Crore allotted for construction of By-Pass lines at Vijayawada (19.5 Kms), Kazipet (10.65 Kms), Renigunta (9.6 Kms), Wadi (7.6 Kms) and Gooty (3.8 Kms) covering Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka States. Bypass lines at Gooty has been completed and Works at remaining stations are in fast progress.

Under Mission Electrification, in the current financial year 638 Route Km of electrification has been completed. This is the highest electrification completed by any Zone across Indian Railways in the current year. The allocation for the current year is Rs. 588 crs. Few section-wise allocation details are as follows: -

Ø Rs. 315.6 Crore allotted for Electrification of Manmad – Mudkhed – Dhone section for a distance of 783 Kms sanctioned in the year 2015-16 at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 902 Crs.

Ø Rs. 132.33 Crore allotted for Electrification of Pimpalkhuti - Mudhked and Parbhani- Parli Vaijnath section for a distance of 246 Kms sanctioned in the year 2017-18 at a sanctioned cost of Rs 325 Cr. Electrification of the section between Pimpalkhuti – Kosai for a distance of 44 Kms has already been completed.

Ø Rs. 35 Crore allotted for Electrification of Purna- Akola section for a distance of 209 Kms was sanctioned in the year 2017-18 at a cost of Rs 277 Cr. Electrification of the section between Akola – Hingoli for a distance of 126 Kms has already been completed.

Ø Rs. 32.8 Crore has been allocated towards electrification between Pagidipalli - Nallapadu (285 rkm)

Details of allocations for other important Projects across the Zone are -

Ø An amount of Rs. 555 crs has been sanctioned for Major upgradation of stations (Umbrella Works).

Ø An amount of Rs. 215 Crs has been sanctioned for Station Development Works over South Central Railway.

Ø An amount of Rs. 204 crs have been sanctioned for Traffic Facility Works.

Ø An amount of Rs. 160 Crore has been allotted for POH workshop at Kazipet.

Ø Rs. 200 crs has been sanctioned for construction of ROB/RUB o­n Golden Quadrilateral routes.

Ø Rs. 82 Crore allotted for development of Satellite terminal at Cherlapalli Station.

Ø Rs. 125 Crore allotted for Midlife Rehabilitation factory at Kurnool.

Ø Rs. 8.5 Crore allotted for development of Tiruchanur Railway station.

Ø Rs. 53.43 crs has been allotted for provision of FOBs and High Level Platforms at Stations.

Substantial budget allocations have been made for the execution of the o­ngoing projects o­n South Central Railways. In terms of State-wise allocation:

Ø Total Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects & safety works, falling fully / partly in State of Telangana in 2023-24 is Rs 4,418 Crores as against Rs 3,048 crore in 2022-23 which is 45% more. There has been a consistent increase in the funds allocation to the Telangana in successive Budgets in recent times.

Ø Total Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects & safety works, falling fully / partly in State of Andhra Pradesh in 2023-24 is Rs 8,406 Crores as against Rs 7,032 crore in 2022-23, which is 20 % more. The Budget allocations to Andhra Pradesh have also been witnessing sustained increase with current year’s allocation being almost 9.5 times the average allocation done during 2009-14.