'New rail zone in AP has remained an empty promise'

The Railway Budget presented by Union Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda has disappointed many in Andhra Pradesh, as there is no mention of a new railway zone promised for the State, with either Visakhapatnam or Vijayawada as the headquarters. It was widely expected that an announcement would be made in the current budget, but such hopes have been belied.

Congress leader T. Subbarami Reddy, a member of the Rajya Sabha, said the railway budget was most disappointing and the BJP Government and its ally, the TDP in the State, did precious little to fulfill the expectations of the people. "Hopes have been aroused over a new railway zone for Andhra Pradesh, with the Waltair division from the East Coast Railway and the three divisions of the South Central Railway - Vijayawada, Guntur, and Guntakal. The public in Visakhapatnam have been demanding setting up of a railway zone in Visakhapatnam for more than a decade and this is the opportune time, but the NDA Government has let people down," he said.

The CPM and other political parties were also critical of the Railway Minister for making no mention of the proposed new rail zone and said it was a big let-down. M.V.S Sarma, MLC, said the BJP and TDP leaders had made many promises before the elections, including one on the new railway zone, but they were not honouring the promises.

Even the local BJP leaders expressed disappointment over the rail budget, but they were not very vocal. Many said the Railway Minister had also not granted any new trains to AP, with the exception of the new express train announced from Vijayawada to New Delhi.

>sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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