The South Central Railway (SCR) has completed and commissioned a major 221-km railway doubling and electrification project that could boost the agro and aqua economies in the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh.

Electrification of the last 32.8km rail line between Aravalli and Nidadavolu was commissioned on October 13, marking the completion of the decade-old project.

The vital Vijayawada-Gudivada-Bhimavaram-Narsapuram electrification, Gudivada-Machilipatnam and Narsapuram-Nidadavolu doubling and electrification project was sanctioned in 2011-12 at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore.

The Rail Vikas Nigam Limited carried out the project in five phases.

The doubling and electrification would now allow the operation of electric traction train services on an end-to-end basis on these routes.

Arun Kumar Jain, general manager of SCR, called it a supercritical project and noted that its completion marked another milestone in the development of rail in the coastal region of AP. This is a prestigious project in the coastal strip of Andhra Pradesh that will boost development in the region. This will significantly strengthen rail transport infrastructure by providing seamless movement of freight and passenger traffic, said SCR Chief Public Relations Officer Ch Rakesh.

Doubling the line would facilitate the introduction of more passenger train services. This line would also serve as a viable alternative to the coastal rail corridor between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, Rakesh added. Importantly, the improved infrastructure project would boost the transportation of agricultural and aquaculture products from the region.