AP plans high-speed rly corridors between metros

Hyderabad, July 12 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to introduce high-speed railway corridors in the state between Hyderabad and Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai and Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.

A review meeting on transport, chaired by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, here today expressed confidence that the project would be launched by August 15, 2008.

Under the project, elevated tracks would be built over a length of around 3,000 km on which high-speed electric trains would run at a speed of 200 km, a press release here said.

Dr Reddy directed the concerned officials to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR), which would be sent to the Centre for early clearance. A presentation on the project was also decided to be made before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the state at the end of the month.

The proposed railway corridors, the first of its kind in the country, would have many features like less journey time, less energy consumption, environmental compatibility, better safety, less congestion of big cities, development of adjoining areas and more business opportunities. Also, it would help to link with the quadrilateral freight corridor, the release added.

The state government would request the Centre either to take up this project on its own or permit to take it up under the viability gap funding facility like the Metro Rail, it added.

UNI