CM writes letter for railway zone

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu wrote a letter to railway minister Piyush Goyal demanding establishment of new railway zone at Visakhapatnam in accordance with the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act on Tuesday.

The letter assumes importance as it comes just a couple of days before the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Visakhapatnam to take part in BJP’s public meeting. 

There is a speculation among BJP, TDP leaders and government authorities at the Secretariat that the Prime Minster is likely to announce the setting up of Railway Zone in his election campaign meet at Vizag.

In his letter, Naidu said that it was an assurance given by Parliament to the AP through an Act and the Central government has to fulfil its constitutional obligation.

Quoting the provisions of the Act, he said in his letter, “Indian Railways shall, within six months from the appointed day, examine establishing a new railway zone in the successor State of AP and take an expeditious decision thereon”.

The Chief Minister informed that at present South Central Railway was catering the railway needs of a major portion of AP, Telangana and certain parts of Maharashtra and minor portion of Karnataka. The SCR has six railway divisions namely Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Nanded, Vijayawada, Guntur and Guntakal.

The Visakhapatnam (Waltair division) is under East Coast Railway with headquarters at Bhuvaneswar and all the districts of north Andhra are under Visakhapatnam division. In the residuary State of AP, four railway divisions namely Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur and Guntakal are located.

Naidu in his letter said in view of AP Reorganisation Act-2014, he had already requested speeding up of formation of new railway zone in Andhra Pradesh at Visakhapatnam by bringing four divisions viz., Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur and Guntakal under the purview of the zone. 

“The Director, Efficiency & Research vide letter No.2014/E & R/3(7)/8(Pt.7), dt.13.11.2018 has informed that the establishment of new Railway Zone in AP is being examined as it is a part of the Act. He has further informed that for examining the above issue, a committee of senior railway officers had been constituted.

The committee has taken into consideration all relevant issues, including impact assessment and others for creation of new Railway Zone in the state”, Naidu explained

He added that the committee has also been asked to consult various stakeholders, including the Members of Parliament, state governments, etc. The committee after deliberation submitted its report and in view of the complexities involved, the issue is under further detailed examination.