VISAKHAPATNAM: The Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced that a series of railway infrastructure projects in Visakhapatnam, collectively valued at nearly Rs 800 crore, have been sanctioned this year.

Among the approved projects is a new railway line project encompassing 3rd and 4th lines between Visakhapatnam and Gopalapatnam, spanning a distance of 15.3 km, with a sanctioned budget of Rs 159.47 crore. Another project for a new railway line connecting Duvvada and Simhachalam North, covering a distance of 20.543 km, was also sanctioned in the same month, at a cost of Rs. 302.20 crore.

Furthermore, a project for constructing 3rd and 4th lines between Vadlapudi and Gate Junction cabin, with an additional Tie line between Gangavaram Port-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, over a stretch of 12.04 km, was sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 54.28 crore. Additionally, the construction of a rail flyover between Pendurti and Simhachalam North at Simhachalam, covering 7.135 km, was approved with a budget of Rs. 183.65 crore.

The Railway Minister explained that these projects were authorized to address capacity constraints, reduce train detention, and accommodate future traffic growth in Visakhapatnam. Land acquisition efforts for these projects are already underway.

BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao, who is now a member of the Railway Users' Consultative Committee of East Coast Railways, expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the significant financial allocations towards these railway projects in Visakhapatnam. He expressed optimism that these initiatives would lead to substantial improvements in the region's railway growth.