Vizag Railway Zone Demanded

Leaders of various parties, cutting across political circles, staged a huge dharna opposite the DRM's office at Dondaparthy in Visakhapatnam on Friday, demanding a separate railway zone with headquarters at Visakhapatnam.

The activists raised slogans against the government, and demanded that north Andhra submit their resignations from their seats. They vowed to organise a joint struggle till the demand was achieved.

They said Visakhapatnam is one of the fastest-growing cities in Asia with tremendous economic, IT and industrial activities, which have a direct impact on the development of the backward coastal districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.

Visakhapatnam needs direct rail connectivity with all important stations in the country, and better facilities for passengers and goods traffic, the protestors said. This would be possible only when a separate Railway Zone with Head Quarters in Visakhapatnam was created, they opined.

The activists said Waltair is one of the best revenue earning Divisions in India, and added the present area covered under the Division justifies the demand for the creation of a separate zone.

They also alleged that in the past, less revenue-earning zones in other parts of the country were accorded Zonal status.

They alleged that the authorities of the present Zonal Office at Bhubaneswar were snatching the existing facilities away by reducing the number of berths, extending trains to Bhubaneswar, diverting important trains through Duvvada without touching Visakhapatnam, and not undertaking any major developmental activities in the Region.

The speakers also demanded the establishment of a Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) in Visakhapatnam in view of the injustice they claimed was being done to candidates from the region in selections.

Other demands include setting up of a freight corridor and a coach or wagon factory in Visakhapatnam.

The leaders submitted a memorandum listing their demands, to the DRM.

Activists from YSR Congress Party, BJP and CPI participated in the dharna. The police arrested a few activists when they tried to barge into the DRM's office, and shifted them to the police station nearby. (INN)