Two days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vishakapatnam Public Meeting, the Central Government hastily announced the Railway Zone with Vizag as the Head Quarters. This is a long-standing demand for decades and is just fulfilled just before the elections for obvious reasons. However, the announcement still does not satisfy the people.
The major revenue earning part of Waltair Division is going to East Coast Railway. Around 6500 Crore Revenue earning Freight Business is given to EcoR. There are people who say the income goes to Indian Railways and we should be happy with the jobs coming. That is not totally true. The more revenue a zone makes the more budget it is allocated.
Also, the well-performing projects are given importance in the new railway lines and projects. Losing Freight also means that a lot of jobs from that segment are also lost. South Coastal Railway Zone will be burdened by the maintenance while EcoR makes the Revenue. So, this is definitely a concern.
The new Railway Zone is not approved by the Cabinet or the Railway Board. With an impending Election Code, the process is unlikely to begin before the elections. The Railway Ministry made vague statements regarding Waltair Division so as to keep their prospects in Odisha alive. The actual guidelines may be prepared only after the elections according to the political needs of BJP in both the states. The results will have an impact.
