Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Take Steps To Create A New Railway Zone With Headquarters At Visakhapatnam ... on 7 August, 2018
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Need to take steps to create a new Railway Zone with headquarters at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI) (ANAKAPALLI):Madam Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to raise the issue of creating a new Railway Zone with headquarters at Visakhapatnam. In the last four years, I don’t know how many times I had raised this issue but from the Government side, the response so far is zero.
I would like to bring to the kind notice of the Government that Waltair Division of East Coast Railway contributes the highest revenue to the Indian Railways. The Division has been discriminated in getting its dues in terms of train services, passenger amenities, development of railway stations, etc. when you take into consideration the contribution it is making to the total revenue accruals of the East Coast Railway Zone. As a result, there has been a growing demand from public, public representatives, intellectuals and other sections of the society for creation of a separate Railway Zone and its Headquarters at Visakhapatnam.
It is to be noted that Visakhapatnam has all the infrastructural facilities like land, buildings, etc. for the creation of a separate Railway Zone. Visakhapatnam is a major industrial, educational and financial hub of Andhra Pradesh. It is the longcherished dream, desire and demand of the people of Uttarandhra to have a separate Railway Zone for the last three decades.
While bifurcating the State of Andhra Pradesh, the then Government had promised in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act that a separate Railway Zone would be created in Andhra Pradesh, apart from other promises. Last week, in the other House, while replying to the Short Duration Discussion, initiated by our leader, Shri Sujana Chowdhury, Shri Rajnath Singh, hon. Home Minister, promised that the Railway Zone would be created in Andhra Pradesh. But the Government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that it was not possible to create a separate Railway Zone for Andhra Pradesh.
I would like to request the Government, through you, not to play with the emotions of the people of Andhra Pradesh. This is a long pending demand for the last three decades.
HON. SPEAKER: Please don’t show it when your Party Member is speaking.
SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI) : I am unable to understand the dual statements being made by the representatives of the Government. Which one is correct?
Under the circumstances, I would request the Government of India to announce the creation of new railway zone immediately. It is an election promise. Hon. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, when he visited Visakhapatnam, himself promised creation of a new Railway Zone with headquarters at Visakhapatnam. The MP from BJP, Shri Hari Babu, is representing Visakhapatnam. We have waited for four long years, with great patience. People of Andhra Pradesh is feeling unrest. Without any further delay, I would request the Union Government, through you, Madam, to immediately or before the end of this Session, announce creation of a new Railway Zone with headquarters at Visakhapatnam.…(Interruptions)