The much anticipated railway budget, which is the initial since the division of Andhra Pradesh, was a mixed bag for the duo states. While Telangana was the receiver of the major cube of the assigned Rs 2,768 crore to the South Central Railway (SCR), it was sadness all around for Andhra Pradesh.
The altogether grant of funds to SCR saw a rise of over 24 per cent compared to previous year. Nevertheless, big chunk of the financing came for projects for the latest state of Telangana. Out of the assigned budget, Rs 1,200 crore has been granted to the doubling of the Secunderabad-Mahbubnagar line.
While the demand of Andhra Pradesh to form a new zone was not even stated in the budget, the most important allocation for the residuary state was the Rs 150 crore doubling and electrification of the Vijayawada-Bhimavaram-Nidavolu line.
“To be frank, we are not happy . But, we are still lobbying with the minister and the railway board. We are hoping he comes good on his promises of clearing the new trains during the budget session after completing the study ,“ Vijayawada MP Kesineni Nani said.
