Railway Minister flags off two new trains

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu Monday flagged off two new trains of South Central Railway at Secunderabad Railway Station here.

He showed a green flag to the Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Weekly AC Express. He also launched the Nanded-Aurangabad Weekly Express via remote video.

Speaking on the occasion, Prabhu promised to consider the demand for a new train between Tirupati and Shirdi.

He also assured to consider demands for new trains, for increasing frequencies of some trains and other railway projects in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

He said the railways and Maharashtra would form a separate company to undertake railway projects in the state. "We will pay special attention to Marathwada, which has long been neglected. We will also focus on other regions of Maharashtra as well."

Prabhu said the ministry would also consider the demand of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for including Marathwada in Central Railway.

The minister said they were also working to connect roads, ports and airports for a multi-modal solution to the problem of logistics.

Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya, who represents Secunderabad parliamentary constituency, Telangana Home Minister N. Narasimha Reddy and Congress MP V. Hanumantha Rao drew attention of the minister to various pending projects in Telangana.