Centre would formally make an announcement On Visakaptnam Railway

The coveted separate railway zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters may soon become a reality with the Centre finally giving the green signal to the zone.

According to information reaching here, the Centre would formally make an announcement in a couple of weeks and decide on the boundaries of the zone. Meanwhile, a committee is expected to visit the city on May 14 to examine the situation.

It is said that there would be new borders for the zone to avoid controversy with the neighbouring Odisha on the issue by leaving 65 per cent of the area of the present Waltair Division to Odisha and Chattisgarh and leaving the rest of the 35 per cent with the new zone.

In fact, the Centre had already worked out the modalities on the new railway zone and had wanted to announce it last month. But with the TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu breaking away from the NDA Government, it was kept on hold. However, with the BJP leaders from the State pressing hard to concede the project promised under the bifurcation Act, the Centre has now decided to grant it.