Govt approves doubling of Tirupati-Pakala-Katpadi railway line in Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu

The government has approved the doubling of Tirupati-Pakala-Katpadi single railway line section in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Briefing media in New Delhi yesterday about the decisions taken during the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said this project will enhance connectivity to the educational and medical hubs of Vellore and Tirupati. 

He said, Chittoor and Tirupati districts of Andhra Pradesh and the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu will benefit from this project, and the estimated cost will be one thousand 332 crore rupees. He said, this multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to around 400 villages and about 14 lakh population. The Minister said, this is an essential route for transportation of commodities such as coal, agricultural commodities, cement and other minerals.

The government also approved the construction of six lane



Zirakpur bypass with an estimated cost of over one thousand 878 crore rupees. He said, the length of the bypass would be 19.2 kilometres spreading in Punjab and Haryana. Mr. Vaishnaw said the project will help in de-congestion in Zirakpur, Panchkula and surrounding areas by diverting traffic from Patiala, Delhi, Mohali Aerocity and providing direct connectivity to Himachal Pradesh.

The cabinet also approved modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management as a sub-scheme of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana with an initial total outlay of one thousand 600 crore rupees. Mr. Vaishaw said, this will help the farmers in achieving more crop per drop and 80 thousand farmers will be included in the 78 projects. The scheme aims for modernization of the irrigation water supply network to supply irrigation water from existing canals or other sources in a designated cluster.