After dodging available solutions to the decades-long problem of detention of trains, arriving and leaving Visakhapatnam Junction, the railways have now come up with a ‘solution’, if it can be called one. The railways have proposed a new 35 km long bypass line between Kottavalasa and Anakapalle.
“The bypass line is proposed to be taken up at an estimated cost of ₹2,886.74 crore. The final location survey, sanctioned in December 2023, was completed and a detailed project report (DPR) was submitted to the Railway Board,” according to information obtained by Kanchumurti Eswar of Duvvada, under the RTI Act.
Three new crossing stations — Mogalipura, Jagannadhapuram and Koduru — have been proposed. In addition to this, a freight and coaching examination yard at Jagannadhapuram, 15 freight examination lines, 15 coaching examination lines will also be developed as part of the project, which requires 563 hectares of land.
Visakhapatnam Railway Station is a terminus like Chennai and Howrah (Kolkata) and the locomotives have to be reversed and attached at the other end of the rake (train) to proceed on their onward journey. It may be recalled that a ‘bulb line’ from Visakhapatnam junction and back to the station via Visakhapatnam Port was proposed over a decade ago to prevent the need for engine reversal for through trains arriving and leaving the city.
