The 309 km Nadikudi-Kalahasti railway line, envisaged as an alternative route to the Kazipet-Vijayawada and Vijayawada-Gudur-Tirupati, Chennai grand trunk route, will be a game changer for the coastal region, Divisional Railway Manager V.G. Bhooma said on Thursday.

“The railway line can decongest the busy Chennai-Howrah line passing through the coastal region vulnerable in times of cyclones and can spur development in Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore and Kurnool districts,” he said.

The ambitious railway project taken up in the last decade, this connects Nadikudi railway station on the Secunderabad-Guntur railway line with Srikalahasti in Chittoor district located on the Gudur-Katpadi railway line.

With most of the land acquisition done, the electrification of Guntur-Nandyal stretch is in progress.

“With the laying of Nadikudi-Srikalahasti railway line, we are opening a new and exciting avenue for freight movement across the northern corridor and this is the most exciting thing happening in the year 2018,” Ms.Bhooma told.

Among the major development works taken up in the Guntur Railway Division is the electrification of Guntur-Tenali railway line which is expected to be completed by December, 2018. The electrification of Guntur-Pagidipalli railway line is expected to be completed by February, 2019.

The DRM said that passenger amenities at the Guntur railway station were a top priority. She said that all the railway platforms would have escalators and within a year, three escalators would be set up on platforms 1,2,3 and 4. Platform no. 8 would be expanded to facilitate stoppage of trains having 24 carriages.

The Railways have already tied up with Ola Cabs facilitating a smooth onward journey to passengers.