VISAKHAPATNAM: The lack of even a mention in the budget, presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament on Wednesday, on the proposed new railway zone in Andhra Pradesh, came as a big disappointment for the people of Visakhapatnam region.
The Opposition parties staged protests at various places in the city on Wednesday to express their ire on the non-announcement of the zone. The BJP, on its part, stuck to its stand that the railway zone need not be announced in the budget.
CPI(M) leaders B. Ganga Rao, G.S. Rajeswara Rao, RKSV Kumar, M. Subba Rao, P. Mani, Krishna, RP Raju, D. Kamaraju, USN Raju and V. Narendra Kumar were among those arrested when they organised a protest at the railway station.
CPI leaders and activists staged a demonstration under the leadership of AJ Stalin in front of the Gurajada statue at the RTC Complex. A demonstration was held by the YSR Congress party under the aegis of party leader G. Amarnadh at Jagadamba junction to protest against the raw deal meted out to Vizag and AP in the budget.
‘A political decision’
CPI(M) leader Ch. Narasinga Rao noted that contrary to the repeated statements made by the BJP that a new railway zone with headquarters in Vizag would be established, no announcement was made in the budget. He termed the budget a ‘big disappointment.’
“Railway zone is a political decision and has nothing to do with the budget. I am confident that it will be announced during this year,” said Visakhapatnam North MLA and BJP Floor Leader in the AP Assembly P. Vishnu Kumar Raju.
The people of North Andhra region have been seeking establishment of a new railway zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam for about two decades to get a better deal to the region on the railway front.
