There will be no diversion of any new trains via Duvvada in future and the trains currently being diverted would be re-routed through Visakhapatnam in a phased manner, Divisional Railway Manager N. Kashinath said.
Replying to queries at a media conference here on Monday, he said that six of the 12 trains being diverted at Duvvada are already being re-routed through Visakhapatnam and the Railway Board has promised to consider re-routing of the remaining trains in a phased manner.
Three new trains originating from Visakhapatnam and nine trains passing through the Division have been announced in the 2012-13 budget. The Visakhpatnam – Chennai Weekly Express, the Visakhapatnam – Sai Nagar Shirdi Weekly Express (which has been running for the last two years as a special train) and the Visakhpatnam – Lokmanya Tilak Weekly Express via Titlagarh and Raipur. The trains ‘passing through the division include the Secunderabad – Shalimar AC Weekly Express via Vijayawada, Puri – Yeswanthpur Garibrath weekly express via Visakhapatnam and Guntur, Bhubaneswar – Bhawanipatna Link Express daily via Vizianagaram, Puri – Chennai Weekly Express and the Gunupur-Palasa-Gunupur Passenger train daily.
On the delay in the launch of the Secunderabad – Visakhapatnam Duronto Express, which was announced in the last budget, Mr. Kashinath said that it was for the South Central Railway (SCR) to procure the rake required for its operation. He was, however, optimistic that the Duronto would begin to run by the end of this month.
Orders have been placed for procurement of two escalators for Visakhapatnam station. One would be on platform 1 and the other on platform 8 (Gnanapuram side). He hoped that these escalators would be installed in the next three to four months.
Referring to the provision of additional amenities at Duvvada, he said that though work has begun on a new platform it couldn't be completed due to paucity of funds. The platform work would be completed this year.
When his attention was drawn to the demand for construction of additional platforms on the Gnanapuram-side of Visakhapatnam Railway Station, Mr. Kashinath said that the proposal was in the planning stage and it was too early to comment on it. He said that the eight existing platforms were adequate to accommodate the incoming and outgoing trains at present.
He, however, did not rule the need for additional platforms once all the diverted trains were re-routed through Visakhapatnam. On the demand for provision of halts to Express trains at local stations like Kothavalasa, Pendurthy and Simhachalam North Stations, he expressed the view that such a measure would hinder the movement of traffic.
He, however, said that there was a proposal to provide a halt to the Visakhapatnam – Koraput Intercity Express at Kothavalasa. He also said that incoming trains were being stopped at Simhachalam North for the benefit of pilgrims.
