Konaseema passengers propose new coastal railway line

KAKINADA: Passengers of Kakinada and Konaseema districts have proposed a Coastal Railway Line through Kakinada that will reduce the rail distance between Visakhapatnam and Chennai by 60 kilometres.

Those promoting the line underline that a new railway line will have to be laid covering a distance of only 20–22 km. This will provide an alternate link between Howrah and Chennai via Pithapuram and connect Kakinada Port to key centres within the country.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Kakinada Lok Sabha member Vanga Gita said Indian Railways has already sanctioned a dedicated railway line to Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ). She said she has proposed to the railway ministry to extend the same line up to Kakinada.

Clubbed with Kotipalli-Narsapur railway line, there will be a linkage through not only port towns like KSEZ Dedicated Port, Kakinada Port, Machilipatnam Port and Nizampatnam Port, but also pilgrim centres of Annavaram, Pithapuram (Pada Gaya), Sarpavaram (Bhavannarayana Swamy temple), and Pancharamas of Draksharama, Palakollu and Bhimavaram, apart from tourist spots in Konaseema.

“The line will be most economically viable for railways too,” Gita underlined.

Cocanada Town Passengers Association president and South Central Railway member Y.D. Rama Rao said they have proposed coastal railway line from Annavaram in Kakinada district on Visakhapatnam-Chennai route via the newly proposed Greenfield Port-Kakinada Port-Kotipalli-Narsapur-Machilipatnam-Repalle-Nizampatnam Port and Bapatla.

Rama Rao said this will make Andhra Pradesh a trump card in development of the country, as East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts produce high-potential agriculture, industrial, shipping, gas, petroleum and aqua products. The line will be highly beneficial for people of coastal districts and also promote tourism, as the route passes through Konaseema and Diviseema between Godavari and Krishna rivers.