The indifference of elected representatives has apparently cast a cloud on railway projects in the region. The MPs seem to have no identical approach to the development of Railways in the region. While Guntur MP Galla Jayadev wants a direct train between Guntur and Delhi, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) feels that the train should originate from Vijayawada.
The creation of a new zone in A.P. has also become a bone of contention, with Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada MPs pulling in different directions. Visakhapatnam MP K. Haribabu is striving to have the zonal headquarters located in the port city, while Mr. Nani and some local industrialists and businessmen have done their own lobbying for the project.
They are now laying emphasis on announcement of new trains to Shirdi, Bangalore, Delhi and Chennai originating from Vijayawada and Guntur. “The HQ of the proposed zone in the city will be very useful for the development of Railways in this region,” Mr. Nani said while promising to get it done at the earliest. Many projects pertain to Vijayawada city. Development of satellite stations between Rayanapadu and Gunadala has remained on paper. These stations are proposed to ease traffic congestion at the main railway station in Vijayawada.
Doubling/electrification of Vijayawada-Gudivada-Machilipatnam, Gudivada-Bhimavaram, Narsapur-Bhimavaram-Nidadavolu branch line sections are some other long-pending projects. The Hyderabad-Vijayawada bullet train project is another ambitious project craving for attention.
South Central Railway Mazdoor Union electric loco shed branch secretary R. Bhupendra said the demand for Period Overhaul (POH) workshop had been pending for long. It is likely to materialise only if the HQ of the proposed zone is set up in city, as it was a major project requiring huge financial outlay.
A former member of Vijayawada railway station users’ consultative committee said gross injustice had been done in terms of the abysmal number of originating trains.
