Rs 12 crore for Tirupati railway station

TIRUPATI: Minister of state for railways KH Muniyappa has said that 12 projects with an outlay of Rs 12 crore has been taken up for improving the passenger amenities at Tirupati railway station apart from introduction of additional trains connecting the pilgrim town to various popular destinations.Commenting over the proposed World Class Railway Station in Tirupati, he said that it has been decided to take up the project at Tirupati West considering the limitations at the existing railway station. The proposal has been already approved by the empowered committee, he said.Indian Railways has 50 acres of land at Tirupati West and another 21.3 acres is required for the project, for which the state government has assured to speed up the land acquisitions,” he explained.“The focus at present is on the mode of operation and mode of returns from the project to the investors, since it will be taken up in Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis,’’ he said.On security issues at Tirupati Railway station, he said the proposed Integrated Security System in Tirupati and at Secundrabad will come up in another two years.Replying to the questions posed by the media, he said that opinions are being invited from people, for betterment of the rail services.Asked whether they have taken the public opinion while choosing Tirupati West as the site for the proposed world class railway station, he said that they have taken the decision after considering every factor and it won’t disappoint people.He also asked the officials to allocate a liasion officer to address the public grievances at the railway station and to coordinate with media and public representatives.On the issue of porters’ high-handed behaviour to passenger, the minister asked the GM to sort out the problem within 45 days.Commenting over the shortage of enquiry terminals and booking counters at the existing railway station, SCR general manager Asthana said two more booking windows had been opened at the reservation office and a special tatkal booking window is in operation for one hour in the morning apart form split booking windows.“The proposed touch screen information kiosks will come up soon at the station at the earliest,’’ he assured.Officials said, passenger amenity works worth `7.7 crore have been completed in the last three years.