Decks have been cleared for running of Andhra Pradesh Express from Visakhapatnam to New Delhi via Vijayawada. While two of the railway zones have already finalised the path for the train, three other zones, through which the train has to pass, are yet to clear the same.
“The starting of AP Express from Visakhapatnam has been finalised, but I am yet to get information on the timings and the inaugural run of the train,” Visakhapatnam MP and BJP State president Kambhampati Haribabu told The Hindu.
“The timings for AP Express have already been laid out by the East Coast Railway (ECoR) and South Central Railway (SRC) but confirmation of the other zones is awaited. The final call on the train, would, however, be taken by the Railway Board,” ECoR Chief Public Relations Officer J.P. Mishra said.
It may be recalled that the Railways had announced running of the Vijayawada – New Delhi AP Express via Warangal, Nagpur, Bhopal and Agra. Though the South Central Railway (SCR) had initially proposed to run it via Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Katni and Jhansi, it was reportedly dropped due to ‘path problems’.
Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu, and MPs K. Haribabu and Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao had all supported the popular demand for running of the train from Visakhapatnam to New Delhi via Vijayawada or alternatively starting it from Vijayawada and routing it through Visakhapatnam. “The total demand for AC berths, by various passing trains, from Vijayawada towards New Delhi is around 80 a day on an average. Not even two coaches would be full at the starting point, even if all the 80 passengers are accommodated on the train. The berths cannot be utilised by passengers from other cities and towns in AP as the train travels for less than an hour in AP,” says RTI activist Pradyumna, who has obtained the information under the RTI Act.
