Thanks to the indifference of our MPs, there seems to be no solution in sight for re-routing of the trains, presently running via Duvvada, through Visakhapatnam.
Our MPs have been regularly writing to the Railway Minister and the Railway Board Chairman during the last few years, and religiously issuing copies of the same to the media to ‘highlight’ their efforts to end the injustice to Waltair Division. Unfortunately, they neither seem to have the inclination nor the time to ensure that action was taken on the issues raised by them.
The sincerity of the MPs from Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam (which fall under the purview of Waltair Division of East Coast Railway) towards development of the region can be gauged from the fact that none of them has attended the meeting convened by the ECoR General Manager in Bhubaneswar recently to discuss the issues pertaining to Waltair Division.
“The haste with which the work on the second diversion line between Simhachalam North Station and Gopalapatnam (near Kothapalem) is being completed gives rise to the suspicion that the ECoR authorities have no plans to re-route the diverted trains. The new diversion line is likely to be operational in a few months and the authorities may come up with some excuse to run newly introduced trains on the diverted path,” say people from the region, who have been closely monitoring the developments.
‘Bulb line’
“The construction of four more platforms in Visakhapatnam and laying of a third line from Gopalapatnam RRI cabin to Visakhapatnam Station, at an estimated cost of Rs.25 crore, can prevent delay in the passage of through trains. Instead of giving a feasible solution, our people’s representatives suggested construction of a ‘bulb line’ to ensure free passage of trains. The proposal has been rejected by the railway authorities as it would require Rs.100 crore,” they say.
The new Railway Time Table will be released on July 1 and unless all-out efforts are started immediately, there is no way of getting the trains re-routed through Visakhapatnam.
