- Railway Lines in the sections between Kadiri – Tummanamgutta, Pakala – Kalikiri and Dhone – Kurnool Town have been electrified
South Central Railway has increased its pace in electrification of railway lines across its network by giving boost towards the Mission Electrification of Indian Railways. In this direction, SCR has completed electrification of 163 Route Kms of railway lines in different sections of Andhra Pradesh. This has led to major infrastructure enhancement particularly in the Rayalaseema region in the state of Andhra Pradesh duly paving the way for introduction of electric traction in the interior sections of the Chittoor, Anantapur and Kurnool Districts of Rayalaseema region. The electrification of 163 Track Kms completed includes – 53.30 Route Kms between Kadiri - Tummanamgutta, 55.80 Route Kms between Pakala - Kalikiri and 54.20 Route Kms between Dhone - Kurnool City.
The sections between Kadiri - Tummanamgutta and Pakala - Kalikiri have been electrified as part of the Dharmavaram - Pakala electrification project. This has been sanctioned in the year 2017-18 for a distance of 228 Kms at an estimated cost of Rs 253 Crores. The section between Dharmavaram - Kadiri for a distance of 67 Route Kms was already completed in March 2021. Now, with the completion of two more sections, 176 Kms of the entire section stands electrified, while works in the remaining 52 kms stretch between Tummanamgutta - Kalikiri are under fast progress and nearing completion.
The section between Dhone – Kurnool city has been electrified as part of Dhone – Kurnool City – Mudkhed – Manmad electrification project. This project has been sanctioned in the year 2015-16 for the distance of 783 Kms at an estimated cost of Rs 900 Crores. The portion between Dhone – Kurnool city pertains to Andhra Pradesh region and now stands electrified.
Electrification of these sections entails benefit in train operations, which includes:
· Providing seamless movement of trains by avoiding change in traction power
· Reduced enroute detention of both the coaching and freight trains
· Improves the average speed of the trains (by reducing detention)
· Provides an environment-friendly means of powering the trains, while saving fuel costs at the same time.
Shri Sanjeev Kishore, General Manager, South Central Railway complimented the railway officials at both the Zonal and Divisional levels for their effective output in terms of railway electrification across the Zone. The General Manager has advised to speed up the electrification works across the Zone so as to complete all works within the end of year 2023.
