Visakhapatnam, February 26, 2008
Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad Garib Rath to ply thrice a week
For the fourth consecutive year, the Railway Budget presented by Lalu Prasad has yet again, extended a raw deal to the North Coastal districts. The people's demand to create a separate railway zone or merge the division into South Central Railways has not been taken into cognizance. Many leaders felt that despite the railway division contributing to sixty percent of the revenue, the division is being given a pittance. The division contributes Rs.2,500 crore to East Coast Zone.
One of the major scheme for the region is the sanctioning of third railway line between Kottavalasa and Vizianagaram and the fourth line between Kottavalasa and Simhachalam. The 40 km line would cost Rs.260 crore while the 16 km fourth line will cost Rs.100 crore. The two lines are expected to be a boon for the business community dealing exports from Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. The new Kottavalasa – Simhachalam line is useful for several upcoming industrial projects as well as the existing ones in view of the industrial corridor developing around Kottavalasa.
TDP Parliamentary Party leader Yerran Naidu said that not a single project has been sanctioned for the North Andhra districts. In separate press statements, former members of Parliament MVVS Murty, CPI leader Chalasani Raghavendra Rao and Praja Spandana president CS Rao have described the Railway Budget as highly disappointing. They said that the only sop given to the region is the thrice a week Garib Rath Express for Visakhapatnam. In a statement, East Coast Railway Shramik Union Divisional coordinator D Shaleel has expressed disappointment as the budget opposed privatization of services worth Rs.1 lakh crore.
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