CPM agitates for Vijayawada-Rayagada passenger

Eluru: The workers of CPM staged a dharna at Powerpet Railway Station here on Wednesday, in protest against the decision to change the Vijayawada-Rayagada passenger train as express train.

The CPM workers reached the Powerpet Railway Station in the morning and started the dharna. The CPM Gandhinagar Committee secretary, former councilor Kandi Viswanadham led the protest.

CPM City Committee secretary P Kishore, while addressing the dharna, stated that the railway department had announced that the Rayagada passenger would run as express from April 1. Following this decision, the Rayagada express did not stop at Powerpet Railway Station. He stated that over two decades, the Vijayawada-Rayagada passenger train was serving the people of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. 

The passenger train was the source of travel to the poor who migrated from north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to Eluru and Vijayawada areas. Over 2,000 passengers had been using this service, he pointed out.  Following the sudden decision of the railways, the seasoners, poor people and the daily workers have been facing hardships.

CPM District Committee member B Somaiah said that the Centre had started the privatisation of public sector units and as part of this it already started the process of privatising Vijayawada and some other big railway stations. If the people did not fight against this, they may lose the Eluru and Powerpet railway stations to private people.

The CPM workers raised slogans demanding that the railways continue Rayagada train as passenger service and if not possible, run another alternative train in the timings of Rayagada. They also demanded to halt the Rayagada in Powerpet Railway Station as usual.

The CPM leaders said that they started a signature campaign and submited representations to the railways apart from ELuru MP Maganti Babu.The CPM leaders, Mavuri Srinivasa Rao, K Srinivas, B Jagannadham, P Adiseshu and others led the dharna.The CPM started the signature campaign from the public at the Railway Station in Powerpet.