Oppn mulling revival of agitation for new railway zone

Visakhapatnam: Even after an announcement at the time of general elections by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and subsequent approval of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) by the Ministry of Railways, the date is yet to be determined on operationalising the South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam.

Opposition parties, mainly the Left parties are contemplating reviving an agitation alleging that there is no political will to operationalise the zone in deference to the public sentiments. "The PM himself made the announcement and the DPR has been accepted by the Railway Board. It's an irony that so far it has not started functioning at the Divisional Railway Manager's office pending construction of permanent structures," Railway Zone Sadhana Samiti convener JV Satyanarayana Murthy told Bizz Buzz on Thursday. He said they are planning to revive the agitation from next month after consulting all the stakeholders.

Murthy said the Railway authorities have already made groundwork in identifying lands for construction of buildings after conducting studies on jurisdiction of the new zone and the divisions proposed under it as well as the transfer and absorption of the workforce.

One of the thorny issues dogging uncertainty to operationalise the new zone is the fate of Waltair Railway Zone, one of the largest freight earning divisions for the Railways. The Centre wants to wind up the zone and merge its areas under Vijayawada division and the proposed Rayagada division in Odisha. There is also a feeling in certain sections that due to political pressure from BJP leaders from Odisha, the new zone's functioning has been delayed. At present, Waltair division comes under East Coast Railway (ECoR), which has headquarters at Bhubaneswar.

Several representations have been submitted to the Centre from various organisations against abolition of the Waltair division, which was formed in 1893. "Even if a zone is formed, we don't want Waltair division, which has a glorious history, to lose its identity," said AJ Stalin, a local corporator.

Waltair division, which has Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line considered lifeline for ECoR due to transport of iron ore and other minerals in the busy area between Visakhapatnam and Kirandul (Chattisgarh), had loaded 66.88 million tonnes during 2021-22 earning a revenue of Rs.7,972 crore compared to Rs 7,272 crore during the previous year.

Culmination of several years of agitation, the zone was one of the important promises made at the time of bifurcation. It was promised by Modi at an election rally after which a formal announcement was made by then Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. He had said at that time as per the 8th Schedule of AP State Reorganisation Act, 2014 the decision has been made.

In response to a question by GVL Narasimha Rao (BJP), Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha that they are firm in carving out a new zone with headquarters at Visakhapatnam. The officials have already identified lands at Dondaparthy, Vadlapudi and Mudasarlova for construction of zonal offices and railway quarters. "If there is a will, pending construction of buildings, the zone can be made operational without much delay," B Ganga Rao, CPI (M) floor leader in the council of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, said.