Land acquisition picks up pace

• The railway line is expected to give a big boost to cement and granite exports
• Revenue officials are waiting for release of funds to acquire the land

Amaravati: The land acquisition for Nadikudi-Srikalahasti railway line in 14 villages under five mandals in Guntur district would be completed within two months. The revenue officials have identified 704.45 acres of land in 14 villages in Pidiguralla, Savalyapuram, Rajupalem, Nakarikallu and Rompicherla mandals for the railway line and land marking works have also been completed.

The district revenue officials negotiated with the farmers to acquire their land. The revenue officials are waiting for the funds to acquire the land. They have already sent the proposals to the government for the release of funds. It may be mentioned here that the then Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao instructed the Guntur district administration to expedite the land acquisition process for this project.

The Central government allotted Rs 180 crore for this railway line in the recent Railway Budget. The State government has to bear 50 per cent of the project cost and bear the land acquisition cost. The Central government has included the project in the priority list. A senior official in the revenue department informed that as soon as funds are sanctioned, we will make payments to the farmers and acquire the lands.

Nadikudi-Srikalahasti railway line starts from Nadikudi, Nakarikallu, Rompicherla, Vinukonda and Gundlakamma and connects Guntur and Prakasam districts. It is expected to give a big boost to cement factories in Guntur district to transport cement to Krishnapatnam port or Kakinada port for cement export. Similarly, granite units in Prakasam district would transport granite stones to Krishnapatnam by goods trains.