The Bhubaneswar-based East Coast Railway (ECoR) has reduced the quota of berths to and from Visakhapatnam on important trains.
The Visakha Express from Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam was first extended to Vizianagaram, then to Palasa and finally to Bhubaneswar. The quotas of the train have been silently revised to the disadvantage of passengers from Visakhapatnam. The maximum demand for this train is between Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad.
Visakha Express is the most preferred train to Hyderabad after Godavari Express, as it reaches Secunderabad at 7.30 a.m. before the rush hour begins in the twin cities.
The quota of berths for this train, which is in the GNWL (General Wait List) from Simhachalam (Waltair Division) and Palasa (Khurda Division), has been transferred to RLWL (Remote Location Wait List) with effect from November 4. “This reduces the quota of berths from Simhachalam (a satellite railway station located right in Visakhapatnam city) and Palasa station in Srikakulam district. Passengers, failing to get accommodation from Visakhapatnam, have been booking their tickets from these stations to travel to Secunderabad,” says RTI activist K Eswar.
ECoR had extended the Bangalore – Visakhapatnam Prasanthi Express and Chennai – Visakhapatnam Express to Bhubaneswar in the past.
The maximum demand for berths on Prasanthi Express is from Bangalore to Visakhapatnam but more quota is allocated to Bhubaneswar. Those failing to get berths in Visakhapatnam quota are purchasing tickets up to Brahmapur, paying the extra fare, and alighting in Vizag.
Such a move shows greater demand for stations in Odisha and not from Visakhapatnam thereby adding the revenue generated by passengers from Vizag to the divisions in Odisha. The increased demand to stations in Odisha has added weight to its claim for more trains and berths.
The ECoR headquarters has failed to apply the same yardstick in the allocation of berths on the Hirakud Express, which was extended to Visakhapatnam.
“Their only objective seems to be extracting as much as possible from Waltair Division before it is de-linked from ECoR and a new railway zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam is established,” feels the RTI activist.
