Title - Bhadrachalam railway line survey over: Minister

Tenders for new line will be called soon, says Balaram Naik

The survey for the Pandurangapuram-Sarapaka (Bhadrachalam) railway line has been completed and the tender for the new line would be called soon, said Union Minister of State for Social Justice P Balram Naik. He was speaking to media persons along with Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Minister for Horticulture R Venkat Reddy, and MLCs P Sudhakar Reddy and K Dileep Kumar here on Monday. Mr Naik was here to attend a review meeting on development works.

The government has sanctioned second bridge across the Godavari in Bhadrachalam town, he said adding that the new bridge would be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs. 250 crore.

Asserting that the foundation for the proposed steel plant in Bayyaram would be laid soon, he exuded confidence that the plant would become a reality before the next general elections.

The senior officials concerned have already engaged in the task of preparing a blueprint for the plant and they are likely to meet Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy in a day or two to apprise him of the same, he said.

The iron ore deposits available in Warangal and Karimnagar districts would be utilised for the proposed Bayyaram plant. Bayyaram would become a hub of steel production in the near future, he said.

On separate Telangana issue, he said the process to carve out separate Telangana State is underway. Bhadrachalam division is an integral part of Khammam district and it would remain so after the creation of separate Telangana State.

Mr Bhatti Vikramarka reiterated that Bhadrachalam was a part of Golconda regime.

Referring to the construction of the famous Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple in Bhadrachalam by Kancharla Gopanna, the then Tehsildar under the regime of Abul Hasan Tanisha in the 17th century, he said Bhadrachalam should be retained in “Telangana State.” We have drawn up a plan to enlist the cooperation of the elected representatives of all the political parties to give a representation to the UPA Chairpersons chairman Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi for retaining Bhadrachalam in Telangana and ensuring adequate funds for comprehensive development of the district, he said.