VISAKHAPATNAM: The decision of the Union railway ministry to run the new Andhra Pradesh AC Express from Vijayawada to New Delhi via Nagpur instead of Vizag is causing much heartburn among the denizens of the city.
Vizagites, particularly regular travelers and elected representatives, are now demanding that the train cut through north coastal AP, particularly Vizag, on its journey to Delhi, instead of covering less than 100 km within the borders of the new state (if it is run through Nagpur).
They feel running the train through Vizag will greatly benefit...
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officials from central government wings such Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Eastern Naval Command, HPCL, BHPV, NTPC, Dredging Corporation of India and several public and private industries, as well as general commuters.
"The train was announced as AP Express to cater to the needs of residuary AP in the backdrop of the bifurcation of the state. If it runs from Vijayawada to New Delhi without passing through a chunk of the new state, what's the point in calling it AP Express. If the government wants the train to cover a major portion of the state, it has to run through Vizag. This is nothing but the failure of the state government to protect the state's interests," said Prof P N Sharma from Andhra University.
Visakhapatnam MP Kambhampati Hari Babu said he had already brought the issue to the notice of the railway minister and would again appeal to him to look into the matter, keeping the interests of a larger number of people in mind.
Railway officials too feel the train will be more useful to the people of north coastal AP as it will reduce the distance and travel time as compared to the existing 12807 Samata Express, which runs from Visakhapatnam to New Delhi covering 1,916 km in 34 hours 20 minutes.
"The Samata Express runs through Raipur in Chhattisgarh and Nagpur in Maharashtra, but if AP Express is run through Vizag it need not go through Nagpur. It can run through Raipur and Katni in Madhya Pradesh, travelling only 1,773 km to reach New Delhi via Vizag. Both travel time and money will be saved if the AP Express is run via the city," a senior railway official told TOI.
According to railway officials, with barely a month to go before the new railway timetable for 2014 is announced on September 1, political parties and elected representatives have already stepped up the pressure to get the railway ministry to effect a change in route.
When contacted, Anil Kumar, divisional manager, Waltair railway, East Coast Railways, said, "Ahead of the new railway time table announcement, I have received representations from some political parties demanding that the new AP Express pass through Vizag. The train will be rolled out, depending on the availability of rakes, after the new time table is announced."