Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Union Minister for Urban Development Inaugurates Escalator Facility at Nellore Railway Station

Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Parliamentary Affairs inaugurated a new Escalator facility at Nellore Railway Station today i.e., 19^th July, 2014 in the presence of Shri M.Rajmohan Reddy, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Nellore, Shri Shaik Abdul Azeez, Hon’ble Mayor, Nellore, Shri P.Anil Kumar Yadav and Shri K.Sreedhar Reddy, Hon’ble Members of Legislative Assembly, Andhra Pradesh. Shri P.K.Srivastava, General Manager, South Central Railway and Shri Pradeep Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada Division, SCR were amongst the Railway officials present.

Speaking to the Media after inaugurating the escalator, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu stated that the provision of escalators at Nellore will be a big boon to passengers, particularly the senior citizens and the differently enabled. He added that the newly inaugurated Escalator o­n Platform No. 1 of Nellore Railway Station has been commissioned at a cost of Rs.1.2 crores and is the first of the 3 escalators sanctioned at Nellore Railway station. The escalator holds the capacity to carry 100 persons per minute. The other two escalators will also be commissioned shortly, he informed. Highlighting the development of Nellore as “Adarsh Station”, he stated that Passenger Amenity works to the tune of Rs.2.30 crores were completed in the last five years at Nellore and Passenger Amenity works costing Rs. 3.25 Crores are under progress, including provision of shelters o­n platforms, widening of platforms, provision of multi function complex etc., Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu spoke o­n the o­ngoing Railway projects and said that sizeable funds are needed for completion which can be done in a phased manner. The Minister stressed o­n significant enhancement of Passenger Amenities at Railway stations and sought public co-operation towards maintaining best standards of cleanliness and hygiene in Railway premises and trains.

Later, Shri Venkaiah Naidu held discussions with the Railway officials and Public Representatives to review the status of Railway projects in Andhra Pradesh at which Dr.P.Narayana, Hon’ble Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh was also present.

Earlier, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu visited the site of the Road over Bridge (RoB) to be constructed at Saraswathi Nagar o­n the Obulavaripalle – Krishnapatnam new Railway Line Project route. He reviewed the pace of work o­n the project with Shri S.C.Agnihotri, Chairman and Managing Director, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) which is undertaking the construction. Addressing the gathering at the spot, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu stated that the process of environmental clearance and land acquisition for Obulavaripalle – Krishnapatnam new Railway Line project has been completed and the construction will be taken up o­n a fast track for completion by 2017. He added that this project, to a length of 113 kms and estimated to cost Rs. 930 crores, will enhance rail connectivity in the region considerably.