Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Creation Of A New Railway Zone And Closing Of Waltair Division In Andhra ... on 16 March, 2021
Seventeenth Loksabha > Title: Regarding creation of a new railway zone and closing of Waltair Division in Andhra Pradesh.
SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU (SRIKAKULAM): Hon. Chairman Sir, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak in Zero Hour. I would like to raise the most important issue of creation of a new railway zone for the State of Andhra Pradesh under the name of South Coast Railway. The zone was announced on 27th February 2019. It has already been two years and nothing has been functional yet; no Budget has been allocated. In the previous Budget, Rs. 175 crore was given for the creation of new railway zone. The work on Rayagada Division is happening at a speedy pace but nothing has been done for the creation of new railway zone. Even the Ministry recently replied that it is still working out the modalities and holding discussions. But it has already been seven years since the passing of Andhra Pradesh Re-organization Act which has led to the creation of the new railway zone. Our demand is that the zone should be operational. Whenever a new railway zone has been created, it has always been the principle that it is attached to a Railway Recruitment Board; all zones have it. But for us, nothing has been announced. So, we want an RRB associated with South Coast Railway zone.
My next point is about closing of Waltair Division. It is a Division which is most profitable in the country and also has a history of 127 years. The Central Government wants to close down the Waltair Division without any logical reason. We are opposing it. It is not a good decision. So, we want it to be revied.
The fourth point is that a new zone is being created to cater to the needs of my State of Andhra Pradesh. I request that seven stations falling under Khurda Road Junction in East Coast Railway should be added to the South Coast Railway. These stations are Palasa, Mandsa, Sunnadevi, Baruva, Sompeta, Jharpudi and Ichapuram. I request these stations be added to South Coast Railway and the zone should also be come operational as soon as possible.