TDP not happy on Vishaka Railway zone

Fulfilling one of the key commitments made to Andhra Pradesh at the time of bifurcation, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday announced a new railway division named South Coast Railway with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam. The new zone will comprise of existing Guntakal, Guntur and Vijayawada divisions, Goyal announced at a press conference in New Delhi.However, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government has found fault with the division of Waltair division. Cabinet Minister Nara Lokesh termed this as another betrayal by Modi.

Lokesh, who is also the son of Chief Minister and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, tweeted that the split of the Waltair division was unjust like the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. "Then revenue-making Hyderabad was given away to Telangana and now revenue-making part of Waltair division has been given to Odisha," he said.

Lokesh pointed out that the part of Waltair division merged with East Coast Railway was earning Rs 6,500 crore annually through freight while the part given to the new zone has revenues of only Rs 500 crore through passenger traffic.