AP chambers seeks Vijayawada-Vizag Vande Bharat

Vijayawada: Welcoming the introduction of Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada Vande Bharat Express, Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation (AP Chambers) said the train has drastically cut the travel time between the two key cities of AP.

“Many air and road travellers have switched to train travel from Vizag, we request that another Vande Bharat be introduced between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam too on a daily basis, as thousands of commuters travel to Vizag from Vijayawada too on a daily basis,” AP Chambers president Potluri Bhaskar Rao, general secretary B. Raja Sekhar and executive council member Gurjeet Singh Sahni informed Vijayawada divisional railway manager (DRM) Narendra Patil when they called on the latter at his office in Vijayawada on Saturday.

The AP Chambers leaders also submitted a memorandum to the Vijayawada DRM making several other suggestions on improving the railway services.

The chamber members also recommended introduction of a Vande Bharat Train service from Vijayawada to Bangalore via Tirupati, as thousands of pilgrims visit Tirupati as well as Bangalore on a regular basis. As a measure to decongest Vijayawada railway station, one of the busiest railway junctions in the country, they suggested increasing the number of platforms at the station, apart from developing Gunadala and Rayanapadu as satellite stations to ease congestion at Vijayawada station.  

AP Chambers sought completion of the East Coast Dedicated Freight Corridor at the earliest. It also wanted commencement of the North-South Dedicated Freight Corridor between Itarsi, Nagpur and Vijayawada, so that it will help lower logistics costs of the industry.