Despite being a divisional HQ from the past 5 decades and being a major junction, Guntakal has not seen any major development unlike Nandyal, Dhone and Nanded, Hubli and Manmad.
It all started with the laying of Kallur - Gooty line which has snatched away the importance of Guntakal junction. The railway authorities for some reason have laid this line without laying a parallel BG line between Guntakal - Kallur when the Guntakal - Bangalore gauge conversion was taken up. To retain the MG connection between Tirupati - Secunderabad, this line was left without conversion.
Later...
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when Chandrababu Naidu was the CM and Bandaru Dattatreya became the MoSR, the Katpadi - Pakala - Tirupati gauge conversion was taken up.
In addition, construction of the Gooty - Pendekallu by pass line has become a major blow for the development of Guntakal station, as most of the trains are running via this line citing loco reversal as a hindrance and also to save 40 - 50 kms of distance.
If you see, trains are being run with loco reversal at Hubli and Vijayawada despite the by pass lines are available.
Also, its because of lack of interest of local politicans which has contirbuted to the miseries of Guntakal.
Ananta Venkatarami Reddy was the only person who took some interest in the development of this region and was instrumental in getting the Kallur - Guntakal gauge conversion project.
If not for all the trains, I have regisetered a grievance in the pg portal for the diversion of APSK and Kacheguda - Chennai Egmore via Guntakal for which the authorities have stated that it is not feasible due to operational constraint. When they are doing the same in Hubli & Vijayawada, why not it is feasible here ?
Scores of trains have been introduced via Gooty - Pendekallu and trust me that 6 weeklies were introduced in the 2014 -2015 budget, courtsey, MoSR Kotloa Surya Prakash Reddy.
Actually, Venkatarami Reddy was to become the MoSR. But since he was vocal in supporting united Andhra Pradesh, he was sidelined and it was given to MoSR who took a neutral stand in the state cause.
And without considering the passenger requirements, he has routed all the trains via Kurnool. Imagine the Kacheguda - Tirupati DD which has been running in huge losses via Kurnool for 2.6 years. Its the same fate for Yeswantpur - Kacehguda tri weekly express too.
Only in the recent times few weeklies have been introduced. On an average, GTL gets a weekly train per year whereas scores of trains are being introduced in Nanded, Dhone regions.
Can't help but praying God for the development of this region.