Politician T. Subbarami Reddy, former minister and convener of Uttarandhra Charcha Vedika (UCV) Mr. Konathala Ramakrishna, former MP Mr. Gyanender Reddy and Lok Satta President Mr. Bhisetti Babji met Railway Minister Piyush Goel on Tuesday. The members submitted a memorandum to Mr. Goel and urged him to establish a separate railway zone for Andhra Pradesh with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters.
The members stated that the formation of the special railway zone has been pending for quite some time now. Reportedly, Mr. Konathala and Mr. Subbarami Reddy said that as per the thirteenth schedule of AP Reorganization Act 2014, “The Union Government shall, within six months from the appointed day, examine the feasibility of establishing a Vizag-Chennai industrial corridor along the lines of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and take within such period an expeditious decision thereon.” Since this entire corridor comes under Andhra Pradesh, there have been demands to cater a separate railway zone in the residual state of Andhra Pradesh.
Mr. Reddy said that the minister had assured him to try and resolve the issue.
The recently announced Union Budget has been causing a huge turmoil in the state. Many leaders and citizens have criticized the centre for ignoring Andhra Pradesh.
In addition to the Special Railway Zone, the state government had also urged the centre to release funds for the purposes of Amaravati, Kadapa Steel Plant and a railway division for the stretch between Vijayawada and Guntakal. The centre, however, hasn’t allocated “sufficient funds” and the leaders feel, the Modi government has fallen short of fulfilling the promises made during the state bifurcation in 2014.
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