Welcoming the announcement of creation of South Coast Railway Zone (SCoR) in Andhra Pradesh with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters, the trade houses on Friday said that the trade and commerce in the north Andhra region would get a boost.
However, some expressed apprehensions over the decision of winding up the 125-year-old Waltair division, dubbing it as a politically motivated move.
“Once the new railway zone start functioning, it will ensure adequate availability of rakes for faster evacuation of cargoes from Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram ports,” a noted stevedore, told The Hindu .
The new South Coast Railway will comprise three railway divisions in Vijayawada, Guntur and Guntakal which used to be parts of the erstwhile South Eastern Railway.
CII zonal manager Muralikrishna Gannamani dubbed the new zone as a long-pending dream come true.
“It was a sentimental issue and I am very happy that the demand has been fulfilled. The Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT), Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) and other industrial establishments in the city, among the major users of the railways, will be benefited immensely. Besides the availability of rakes, the location of zonal headquarters would ensure an easy access to the railway administration,” Mr. Muralikrishna Gannamani said.
Vizagapatam Chamber of Commerce and Industry president A.V. Monish Row expressed happiness over the formation of the new zone.
More investment
“A matter very close to the Vizagites has fructified. What the citizens need are jobs. However, there has been no announcement of any job creating factory such as a wagon wheel or other repairs facilities. The government must look at the job creation, in conjunction with the new zone,” he said.
Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation president G. Sambasiva Rao said the formation of the zone would open up investment opportunities and spur economic prosperity of the region.
“The new zone will ensure plying of more trains from Visakhapatnam and better maintenance of various facilities,” he said.
Meanwhile, some pointed fingers at the rationale behind the mergers of the Waltair division with the Vijayawada and newly created Rayagada divisions.
Revenue matters
Freight earned from the iron ore transportation from Kirandul mines in Chhattisgarh and goods trains between Vizianagaram and Rayagada will come under the purveiw of Rayagada division, which will be a part of the East Coast Railway headquartered in Bhubaneswar, they said.
