Train No. 12796 Secunderabad-Vijayawada intercity superfast express will depart Secunderabad at 05:30 hrs with effect from 21st June, 2016

Train No. 12796 Secunderabad-Vijayawada intercity superfast express will depart Secunderabad at 05:30 hrs with effect from 21st June, 2016

PR. No. 144 

Date: 20th June, 2016

Train No. 12796 Secunderabad-Vijayawada intercity superfast express will depart Secunderabad at 05:30 hrs with effect from 21st June, 2016

Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister of Railways & Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Andhra PradeshFlag Off New Intercity Superfast Express Train between Vijayawada- Secunderabad and Lay Foundation for Doubling of Guntakal-Kalluru Railway Line & Multi Modal Logistics Park at Krishnapatnam

Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister for Railways and Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh flagged off new intercity superfast express train between Vijayawada – Secunderabad; laid foundation stone for doubling of Guntakal-Kalluru Railway Line & Multi Modal Logistics Park at Krishnapatnam through remote video link at a function held at Railway Institute, Vijayawada today i.e., on Monday 20th June, 2016.

Shri Prathipati Pulla Rao, Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture, Agri Processing, Marketing & Ware Housing, Animal Husbandary, Diary Development & Fisheries and Krishna District In-charge Minister, Govt. of AP; Shri Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, Hon’ble Minister for Irrigation, Command Area Development and Water Resources Management, Govt. of AP; Shri Kamineni Srinivas, Hon’ble Minister for Health and Medical Education, and Anantapur District In-charge Minister, Govt. of AP; Smt. Gadde Anuradha, Hon’ble Chairperson, Zilla Parishad, Krishna District; Shri Koneru Sridhar, Hon’ble Mayor Vijayawada Municipal Corporation; Shri Kesineni Srinivas, Shri Gokaraju Gangaraju, Shri Kambampati Hari Babu, Hon’ble Members of Parliament; Shri Buddha Venkateswara Rao, Hon’ble MLC; Shri Jaleel Khan, Hon’ble MLA, Vijayawada (West); were amongst the host of dignitaries present.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister for Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu spelt the plans of Railways to develop rail infrastructure and stated that railways will provide all logistical support to states for the purpose. India is poised for growth under the able leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and best possible synergy is needed to attain the goal. He was all praise for Andhra Pradesh and stated that the State is progressing fast. Railways are tuned to partner this progressive path of the state he added. The long coastline of Andhra Pradesh hold potential for enhancing rail infra, and multi modal logistics projects are planned to attain this purpose, he opined.

Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in his speech said that the newly carved state of Andhra Pradesh needs to be developed further, industrially and economically. He expressed confidence that Railways will contribute its might by developing and strengthening the Rail Network in the state. The state will develop as a crucial logistical hub in India with its strategic location and long coast line. The Chief Minister also said that the Govt. of AP will sign a MoU for a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in months time to develop rail infrastructure in the state.

Earlier, Shri Ravindra Gupta, General Manager, South Central Railway in his welcome address stated that SCR is focused on delivering a qualitative service to its customers by continuously expanding its network and services. The flagging off of the new Vijayawada-Secunderabad Intercity Superfast Express, laying of foundation stone for Doubling of Guntakal-Kalluru Railway Line and Multi Modal Logistics Park at Krishnapatnam in SPSR Nellore district is bound to significantly strengthen rail infra in Andhra Pradesh. He acknowledged the support and advise of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in formulating the development plans in AP.

The newly flagged off train is the first ever single stop (Guntur) superfast service between Vijayawada-Secunderabad and the first non-stop service between Guntur-Secunderabad. The train, which will run six days a week (except Sundays) offers excellent convenience and comes as a much awaited need for a cross section of rail users including the anticipated demands of State Govt. employees travelling from Amaravati area to Hyderabad & back.

The train (Train No. 12796) Secunderabad-Vijayawada intercity superfast express will depart Secunderabad at 05:30 hrs with effect from 21st June, 2016, arrive/depart Guntur at 10:08/10:10 hrs and arrive Vijayawada at 11:00 hrs on the same day. In the opposite direction, the train (Train No. 12795) Vijayawada-Secunderabad Superfast express will depart Vijayawada at 17:30 hrs with effect from 22nd June, 2016, arrive/depart Guntur at 18:20/18:22 hrs and arrive Secunderabad at 23:10 hrs on the same day.

The doubling of Guntakal - Kalluru railway line (41 kms), sanctioned in the Rail Budget 2015-16 at a cost of Rs 323 Crs along with electrification will lend a significant boost to rail infrastructure in Anantapur and adjoining areas of Andhra Pradesh, facilitating faster movement of passenger and freight carrying trains in this heavily congested section, including in the direction of Bengaluru.

The Multi Multi Modal Logistics Park at Krishnapatnam being developed by CONCOR (Container Corporation of India Limited) is an offshoot of the MoU signed with Govt. of Andhra Pradesh to handle international and domestic container freight traffic. Coming up in an area of 140 acres near to Krishnapatnam Port, the logistics park will enable seamless handling of containerized traffic of exports & imports besides movement of domestic cargo.

Shri Ashok Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada Division presented the vote of thanks.