Minister Bharath urges Union Railway Minister to focus on rail connectivity to industrial nodes

Minister for Industries and Commerce T. G. Bharath has urged Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to facilitate railway connectivity to the industrial nodes in the State.

Mr .Bharath met the Union Minister in Delhi on Tuesday (April 29) and submitted a representation on the issue. Mr. Bharath stressed the need for rail connectivity for industrial development in the State and urged the Union Minister to take steps for the development of Orvakal node in Hyderabad–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor and Krishnapatnam node in Chennai–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.

Mr. Bharath sought laying of a new railway line from Dupadu railway station to Betamcherla via Orvakal under the Orvakal node and also a 53 kilometre railway siding to the industrial node. Similarly, he wanted 12 kilometre railway siding from Krishnapatnam Railway Station for the development of Krishnapatnam node.

Development of Orvakal and Krishnapatnam nodes will provide four lakh direct and indirect jobs. “We are hoping to attract ₹55,000 crore investments in the State and it is important to have railway connectivity for industrial development in the State,” he asserted.

Mr. Bharath urged the Railway Minister to get the new railway lines and railway siding proposals made by the State government approved at the earliest. “Railway connectivity to the industrial nodes will facilitate transportation of material to logistic parks, cargo terminals and ports,” he said.

Mr. Bharath also called on Union Minister for Food Processing Chirag Paswan and urged the latter to support the State in developing food processing sector in Andhra Pradesh. Pointing out that tomato is grown extensively in Rayalaseema region he urged the Union Minister to release the first and second instalments of Operation Greens scheme to the tune ₹9.76 crore.

He also stressed the need to set up tomato primary processing centres to ensure the farmers do not face any losses after harvesting.