Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has demanded formation of South Coastal Railway combining Vijayawada, Guntur, Guntakal and Visakhapatnam Railway Divisions, in the event of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
It will augment development of this region by connecting the cities, ports, the Petroleum Corridor planned between Visakhapatnam and Kakinada and facilitating movement of agricultural products, minerals and, more importantl,y the burgeoning number of passengers.
This will happen even if State is not divided and a separate zone is formed, it said.
In a letter sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday,
Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Muthavarapu Muralikrishna and secretary Chukkapalli Prasad stated that coastal Andhra Pradesh with its abundant natural resources and ports would immensely benefit from the proposed zone.
In the event of bifurcation, it was appropriate to create the new zone for development of the region, which will generate large-scale employment against the backdrop of the prospect of losing jobs due to ‘loss of Hyderabad to Telangana’.
The South Coastal Railway zone could be considered under the Eastern Industrial Corridor Project which is funded by Japan.
