SCR eyeing HCL land for Cherlapally railway terminal

Hyderabad: With each passing day pressure on the Secunderabad Railway Station is increasing and the proposal for a mega terminal at Cherlapally on the outskirts of the city is also gaining ground.

According to sources, the South Central Railway (SCR) has sent a detailed proposal to the Railway Board highlighting plans to take over 327 acres of Hindustan Cables Limited (HCL) for the purpose.

It may be noted that the State government is keen on developing Cherlapally as a mega terminal. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, when he last visited the city, announced that a greenfield terminal would be developed at Cherlapally to decongest the Secunderabad Railway Station. Presently, there are two platforms at Cherlapally and four lines to Ghatkesar are being added under MMTS Phase II project.

Senior officials say that if a mega terminal is to be built keeping in mind the traffic volume in the next 50 years, at least 10 platforms would be needed and the project could cost anywhere between Rs 100 and Rs 150 crore. For this, SCR would need an additional 250-300 acres and, with HCL putting down its shutters, it is the closet available land parcel.

Former general manager Ravindra Gupta had met the Telangana Chief Minister to seek land for the terminal. Senior officials say that Ravindra, having been elevated as member, Rolling Stock, would now be based in the capital.

He would push the case as development of the Cherlapally terminal was one of his pet projects.Meanwhile, residents of Cherlapally, Rampally, Damaiguda, Kushaiguda and beyond are hopeful that the Cherlapally terminal does come about as it would spur development of the entire area.

Ramesh, a former employee of ECIL, says, “Cherlapally though is referred as outskirts even now, Ghatkesar too has almost come into city limits, thanks to good roads. The terminal would bring far-reaching changes.”