VISAKHAPATNAM: Member of Rajya Sabha T. Subbarami Reddy, along with former minister and convener of Uttarandhra Charcha Vedika (UCV) Mr Konathala Ramakrishna, former MP Mr Gyanender Reddy and Lok Satta President Mr Bhisetti Babji met Railway Minister Mr. Piyush Goyal on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum to the minister requesting him to ensure that a separate railway zone for Andhra Pradesh is set up with Vizag as its headquarters.
Mr Konathala mentioned that the formation of the new railway zone headquartered at Vizag was a long pending demand. In the last three elections, the formation of a separate railway zone has been a major election issue. Mr. Konathala and Mr. Subbarami Reddy underlined that as per the thirteenth schedule of AP Reorganization Act 2014, “The Union Government shall, within six months from the appointed day, examine the feasibility of establishing a Vizag-Chennai industrial corridor along the lines of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and take within such period an expeditious decision thereon.”
Since this entire corridor falls under Andhra Pradesh, a separate zone needs to be situated in the residual state of Andhra Pradesh.
The present arrangement of being in two different zones with headquarters in different states, namely Telangana and Odisha shall not serve the purpose and shall jeopardise the development of industrial corridor, they added.
Vizag has abundant railway land with 800 acres and is free from hindrances making it the ideal location for setting up a zonal headquarters. Apart from excellent railway infrastructure, it is also the hub of economic activities with excellent connectivity by all other modes of transport too.
The announcement of a railway zone is a political decision and it is not normally based on any sound economic and technical principles. However, the formation of new South Coast Railway zone has a sound economic and technical base and should be considered positively. Reddy said the minister had assured them that he will try to solve the issue.
