Vijayawada: The five-day ‘Tracks of Time’ photo exhibition, held from August 15 to 19 on platform 1 of Vijayawada railway station, concluded on Monday, coinciding with World Photography Day. Dr. CH VS Vijaya Bhaskar Rao, the chief guest for the closing ceremony, along with the Vijayawada divisional railway manager, presented awards to the top three photographs from the exhibition.
Organised by the public relations department, the exhibition featured a range of striking railway-themed photographs taken by both seasoned and amateur enthusiasts of Indian Railways.
After a thorough review, judges Narendra A. Patil and Vijay Bhaskara Rao announced the winners. Y. Sai Krishna won first prize, with Sai Krishna and Ansar N. taking second and third prizes, respectively. In addition, ‘Certificates of Appreciation’ were awarded to 136 members of the Andhra Pradesh Photojournalist Association from 13 former districts of Andhra Pradesh. Some of these certificates were presented by Narendra A. Patil and Vijay Bhaskara Rao.
In his address, Narendra A. Patil commended Vijaya Bhaskara Rao for his 40 years of service and notable achievements, including prestigious UNESCO awards and numerous other honors. To honor his contributions to photojournalism, the DRM awarded Vijaya Bhaskara Rao a ‘Certificate of Recognition’.
Vijaya Bhaskara Rao expressed gratitude to Narendra A. Patil and the public relations department for organizing the event and supporting the photojournalist community. He encouraged fellow photojournalists to pursue their craft with dedication and passion. Rao carefully reviewed all 91 photographs displayed in the exhibition to select the top three. The DRM also praised Nusrat M. Mandrupkar, public relations officer of the Vijayawada Division, for her initiative in recognizing exceptional talent in photography.
