The railway officials conducted a trial run on the new railway line constructed from Vishnupuram to Yadadri Thermal Power Plant (YTPS) in Damaracherla mandal of Nalgonda district.

The work of the 8 km railway line was completed recently, paving the way for coal transportation to the power plant.

According to officials, this particular line had been connected to Secunderabad-Guntur and Motumarri-Jaggayyapet routes for smooth transportation of coal to the plant.

Construction of an overpass and two sub-lines was underway near Damaracherla, the officials said, adding that about 50,000 metric tonnes of coal was needed on a regular basis and ten rakes would be moving in and out on this line.

According to sources, the signaling system at Vishnupuram railway station was supposed to be completed by October 1, but due to repair work on Balharshah-Kazipet-Vijayawada railway line, some trains were diverted to the Bibinagar-Nadikudi route, which caused a delay in changing the signaling system at Vishnupuram.

Since the railway line works have been completed, the officials are expecting the commissioning of the two units of the plant shortly.

As part of testing the readiness for full production of power, two boiler units were ‘fired’ in May. It would take about five to six months before all the testing was completed to ensure every section of the two 800 MW units were working in synchrony, officials said, adding that once that was done, Unit I and Unit II would be ready for the commercial production of thermal power.

The Genco has set a deadline for Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), which is executing the project, to commission two units of Stage I by October and the three units of Stage II by March 2025. Due to delays in the construction of the railway line, the commissioning of the two units is likely to take place in November.

Although all five units should have been commissioned by October last year, there has been a time overrun for all five units. As the construction of the plant has already been delayed for more than three years, Genco is concerned that further delays will result in additional financial losses.

The project, when completed, is expected to cost around Rs 345.42 billion. (By Telangana Today)