Bitragunta railway station ignored once again

Nellore: The district had failed to get at least a small assurance in the Railway Budget this year too except mushrooming assurances from the senior officials during their visits for developing the historic Bitragunta railway station where thousands of vacant railway lands were being encroached by local population.

A full-fledged marshalling yard with hump facility was established in 1968 and a wagon-repair depot was also set up subsequently. The marshalling activities included segregation of wagons and long-distance marshalling orders and activities continued up to 1998. Anglo-Indians occupied the place and it had 1,000 spacious railway quarters built in European style.

It also hosted a Western Culture Institute, now is Bitragunta Railway Institute, which is standing till today as the legend of previous glorious days. But, the charisma faded with mode of traction power from steam to diesel and diesel to electric caused the reduction of shed-activities. Finally, the steam shed at Bitragunta station was closed leaving a bleak gesture to the station.

Thousands of acres of lands now reduced to around 1,600 on records and they are practically hundreds, say local population. Finally, officials planned to start plantation in these vacant lands very recently and still it is ‘under process’ without any development.

The lands, locals say, would gradually be swallowed for their own purposes and it would become a herculean job to the Indian Railways to evict the encroachers after some time.

Further, no special announcements were there for modernisation of any railway station in the district except Nellore main station. The railway budget 2018 allocated funds for the ongoing projects that touch Nellore district. Nadikudi-Srikalahasti railway line was given Rs 340 crore, Rs 100 crore for Vijayawada-Gudur third railway line and another Rs 100 crore for the Krishnapatnam-Obulavaripalli railway line works. Very recently, Nellore station has been provided free Wi-Fi facility.

Local stations in the city have been ignored to develop on par with Nellore main station even though they have equal importance in the city as a result of increasing population. “It is very disappointing that the budget has no mention about Dugarajapatnam Port and also railway line from Gudur to Dugarajapatnam. No new railway zone was also announced after bifurcation of the state and no assurance for the jobless,” said Dr P Krishnaiah, DCC president.

Further, State Secretary of Consortium of Indian Farmers’ Associations (CIFA) Chalasani Kotireddy said there is no clarity on Minimum Support price (MSP) in the Union Budget even though there was an assurance for 50 per cent hike. He said now quintal paddy is at Rs 1,550-1,590 and it becomes Rs 2,325 and Rs 2,385 as per assurance of 50 pc hike which is welcoming decision if it is implemented.

He said support to the dairy, fisheries, food processing, horticulture, agri-marketing, alternative energy and tax reduction on long-term capital gains are welcoming features of the budget.