SCR starts work on ₹3,000-cr Duvvada-Gudur rail line

South Central Railway has launched construction work of the third railway bridge on the river Penna as the Ministry of Railways had sanctioned the third line connecting Duvvada and Gudur at a cost of ₹3,000 crore and allocated funds. Railway authorities started the work for it in 2018 between Gudur and Vijayawada as part of Chennai and Howrah Mainline. Indian Railways engaged its own commercial arm, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), for taking up the works initially between Gudur and Bitragunta railway stations but it faced severe passengers’ rush and shipment of goods. Railways proposed to divert many trains to the third line enabling free movement of express and non-express trains. Execution of earthwork, construction of minor bridges and other works such as the construction of stations have also been proposed between Kommarapudi and Nellore stations to be carried out by the contractor.