Hyderabad: Union Railway minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for AP has been discussed and decided upon with the state’s CM Chandrababu Naidu. A similar one will be discussed with TS CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao as well. The move is in line with the decision of the Indian Railways to form SPVs to be formed with equity participation from state governments and the Indian Railways with all states to undertake specific railway projects in the states.

After flagging off the Secunderabad-Vizag and Nanded-Aurangabad trains, the minister said that a new train between Tirupati and Shirdi will be launched soon.

The minister also said that a huge need for a Marathwada region involving AP, TS and Maharashtra has surfaced. A demand for a new railway zone for AP is still under consideration.

“One state or the other always complains of injustice in sanctioning of railway projects. With SPVs, each state will decide its priorities and send it to the Railways, which will execute the projects. The profits generated will remain with the state for undertaking expansion of network and other work,” said Mr Prabhu.

Meanwhile, labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya met Mr Prabhu and urged the Centre to extend MMTS services up to Shamshabad by sanctioning Rs 200 crores for the second phase of the project.