In a significant step forward for the Amaravati railway line project, the South Central Railway (SCR) has expedited land acquisition efforts across Khammam, NTR, and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh. The proposed 57-kilometre railway line will connect Yerrupalem in Khammam district to Nambur station in Guntur, passing through Amaravati, enhancing connectivity to the capital region of Andhra Pradesh. The Union Cabinet recently approved the project, which carries an estimated cost of Rs 22.45 billion, aimed at improving access to Amaravati. The project will also include a crucial 3.2-kilometre railway bridge over the Krishna River, improving connectivity to major cities such as Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Nagpur, as well as linking Delhi and Mumbai. While the central government has set a four-year timeline for completion, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has urged for faster progress, requesting that the project be completed within three years. Following the Cabinet’s approval, SCR officials have swiftly initiated land acquisition procedures. About 80% of the land required in Andhra Pradesh is already under the possession of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), and the state government is prepared to transfer it once the railway alignment is finalised. Only a small portion of land in NTR district will need to be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act. SCR is focusing on acquiring around 60 acres of land in the villages of Yerrupalem and Kesireddypalle in Khammam district. Farmers in the affected areas have been given 30 days to submit objections to the land acquisition. The railway line will feature nine stations between Yerrupalem and Nambur, providing multiple access points. Additionally, a multi-modal cargo station is planned for Paritala in NTR district, which will become a critical freight hub along the route. The line will be positioned along the existing Vijayawada-Hyderabad route, with Yerrupalem at one end and Nambur, located on the Vijayawada-Guntur line, at the other end. The Andhra Pradesh government has also proposed to the Ministry of Railways to develop Amaravati station as a model railway station, requesting approximately 1,500 acres for its development. (Swaragrajmagazine)