Commissioning of Double Line between Akividu - Bhimavaram Town

Commissioning of Double Line between Akividu - Bhimavaram Town

Doubling between Akividu- Bhimavaram Town for a distance of 16 Kms is completed and commissioned on 2nd February, 2020, with the approval of Commissioner, Rail Safety. Train No. 17482 Tirupati - Bilaspur was the first train to pass through on this newly commissioned double line to mark its successful commencement. This important stretch is a part of Gudivada - Bhimavaram section in the Coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh which is often referred to as “Rice Bowl of India”.

For the expansion of rail network between Vijayawada and coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh State, South Central Railway has taken up the Doubling & Electrification Project between Vijayawada-Gudivada- Bhimavaram-Narsapur; Gudivada-Machilipatnam; Bhimavaram-Nidadavolu for a distance of 221 Kms. The entire project was sanctioned in the year 2011-12 with an estimated cost of Rs. 1428.70 Cr. This project is on cost sharing basis, with 50% of expenditure shared by Govt of Andhra Pradesh. Construction of this project has been entrusted to Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd.

It is a vital rail link to connect coastal Andhra Pradesh, hence the works on this project are being carried out on fast pace and the execution of the entire project work has been divided into 5 phases. The phase wise works execution is - Phase-1 -Vijayawada - Moturu; Phase-2 -Moturu - Bhimavaram Town; Phase-3 -Bhimavaram Town - Nidadavolu; Phase-4 -Gudivada - Machilipatnam and Phase-5 -Bhimavaram - Narsapur. The works in all the 5 phases have been started simultaneously.

Doubling works under Phase- II between Moturu - Akividu for a distance of 40 Kms was completed in March, 2019. Now, the stretch between Akividu - Bhimavaram Town under Phase - II has been completed and train services have started marking the commencement of entire Phase-II doubling works. Electrification works in this stretch are in fast progress.

Doubling of Vijayawada-Gudivada- Bhimavaram- Narsapur; Gudivada-Machilipatnam; Bhimavaram-Nidadavolu for a distance of 221 Kms will ease the congestion on the single line important coastal belt area. It also facilitates in running more number of trains and helps in socio economic growth of the region. The section also acts as an alternate route for the main line between Vijayawada - Nidadavolu section of Vijayawada - Visakhapatnam trunk route.

Shri Gajanan Mallya, General Manager, South Central Railway appreciated the entire team of SCR and also RVNL authorities for completing the Phase-II doubling of this project in reasonable time. He also advised to maintain the same tempo in execution of the work for the entire project which will help to ease out the traffic congestion.