Railways Sets Up Committee To Examine Feasibility Of New Railway Zone

[ARYA]

VISAKHAPATNAM: Amid growing demands for the creation of a new railway zone in residuary Andhra Pradesh, especially with Vizag as the headquarters, the Indian Railways has finally set up a committee to examine the feasibility of such a move in the wake of bifurcation.

According to sources, the committee, comprising nearly half a dozen members, is likely to tour the proposed areas, including Vizag, Vijayawada, Guntur and Rajahmundry over the next few weeks. The committee will take into consideration factors like operational feasibility, financial implications, administrative issues as well as infrastructural availability. At present, there are 17 zones in the country. "A committee has been formed to examine the feasibility of creation of a new railway zone in one of the big cities of residuary Andhra Pradesh. Two officers from SCR are part of the committee." PK Srivastava, general manager, Secunderabad-based South Central Railway (SCR) told TOI. He, however, refused to divulge details of when the committee would tour Seemandhra or the deadline for zeroing in on the headquarter of the new zone.

Meanwhile, railway sources revealed that certain sections, including politicians, are rooting for the creation of the new railway zone between Guntur and Vijayawada and have been lobbying for the same at the Centre and chief minister designate N Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh.

Vizag-based Separate Railway Zone Sadhana Samiti convener JV Satyanarayana Murthy said though he is aware of lobbing for a new zone headquarter at Guntur or Vijayawada, he would be meeting Vizag MP Kambhampati Haribabu among others, to lobby for Vizag as the headquarter of the new zone since it has been a long-standing demand.

[sam86]

simhachalam north simhachalam daggara develop cheyotchu

[ARYA]

simhachalam north simhachalam daggara develop cheyotchu

vizag ki railway zone top priority anta...Port needs it very badly to upgrade cargo handling from 80 to 200 k tonnes