Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Give North Andhra its due, says all-party delegation

VISAKHAPATNAM: A delegation of the forum of political parties, along with Union Minister of State for HRD D. Purandeswari, MPs Botcha Jhansi of Vizianagaram and Killi Krupa Rani of Srikakulam, met Chairman of Railway Board Vivek Sahay in New Delhi on Friday to discuss the various facilities to be provided to the north coastal Andhra region.

The Chairman spent half-an-hour with the delegation and responded positively to some of their requests. Mr. Sahay assured the delegation that he would discuss with the Zonal and Divisional level officials about running a regular train to Shirdi and an overnight train to Chennai, and also take up other demands, CPI's district secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy, who was one of the members of the delegation, informed from New Delhi. Telugu Desam's Lalam Bhaskara Rao and BJP's P.V.N. Madhav were also present.

Making Waltair Division a separate Zone or merging it with South Central Railway was a decision that the Railway Board would not be able to initiate because it would be taken by politicians, the Chairman said.

It was explained to him that the development activities and facilities being provided at Visakhapatnam railway station, or in the Waltair Division, were not in proportion to the huge revenue this area was providing to the Railways. The delegation felt that Mr. Vivek Sahay was not getting proper feed back from the East Coast Railway Zone authorities on the facilities to be provided at Visakhapatnam and in Waltair Division. On not allowing as many as 12 major trains to Visakhapatnam station, and running them through Duvvada, the delegation was of the opinion that the Railway Board was told by Zonal officials that Duvvada provided a good connectivity and it would take more time for a train to come to Visakhapatnam, while the fact was that no additional time was required. The Chairman was requested to verify the facts himself. He was also explained about the bulb-shaped railway line at Visakhapatnam railway station which could be utilised to avoid additional time spent by trains at the station.

Ms. Jhansi and Ms. Krupa Rani, along with Mr. Madhav, told the Chairman that Telugu railway employees in Orissa were being subjected to physical attacks and were told to apply for voluntary retirement. Ms. Krupa Rani wanted the Railways to take up gauge conversion of Naupada-Gunurpur line. There was a need to provide new rakes to the trains being operated from Visakhapatnam, the delegation said. Ms. Purandeswari told the Chairman about the discomfort she faced while travelling on the old coaches of Janmabhoomi express along with her husband, who is also an MLA. In a memorandum the delegation also explained the economic viability of the Division, establishment of a coach factory or wagon unit and RRB, and to stop extending trains from Visakhapatnam to Orissa.

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