Reports are emerging that Central government told the state government that Odisha government will be easing its stance on Polavaram Project if AP stops laying the claim on the Waltair division which is in East Coast Zone. Center reportedly told the Chief Minister that Odisha and Chattisgarh governments will co-operate with Polavaram in such case.
And the proposal is to give a separate Railway Zone to Andhra Pradesh while retaining Waltair division in East Coast. The new railway zone will come up with Vijayawada as the headquarter. But then Chandrababu Naidu is not at all in favour of this proposal as the Vishakapatnam Railway Zone is the longstanding demand of Uttarandhra people and more over, the new zone with out the profitable Waltair division will be of no use.
Chandrababu Naidu is negotiating with the center over this issue and wants the Railway Zone announcement with Vishakapatnam as the headquarter before the Greater Vishakapatnam Municipal Corporation Elections which will happen towards the end of the year. Vishakapatnam Railway Zone was promised in AP BJP election manifesto and there is a BJP MP in Vishakapatnam and so BJP is also obliged to grant the demand.