Kakinada: With the general elections approaching in a year or so, it is testing a time for the leaders belonging to the ruling TD-BJP alliance over fulfilling promises, in particular Kakinada MP Thota Venkata Narasimham, as the Centre is not keen on connecting Kakinada to the main railway line at Pithapuram, which has been the dream and demand of the people.
The Centre allocated Rs 100 crore for the project in the Budget and the state government came forward with a grant of Rs100 crore for land acquisition and other requirements.
Just when it seemed that the rail line would be built came the news that the Centre wanted to shelve the project. This has caused an upsurge of anger, with people feeling that it is the incapability of local TD leaders and the government.
“The Centre is always cheating and dishonouring the people of East Godavari as well as AP. The incompetency of the local representatives is one of the reasons for stalling the project,’’ said Mr Tatavarti Srinivasa Rao. secretary of the Maharshi Sambamur-thy Social Studies Institute.
The project to connect Kakinada to the Pithapuram main rail line has been pending for 60 years. When actor U.V. Krishnam Raju was elected Kakinada MP in 1997, the project was included in the Budget. There were several studies on the project before the NDA government allocated funds.
“The line connecting Kakinada, Pithapuram, Kotipalli, Amalapuram and Narasapuram line is a good alternative for the Visakhapatnam-Chennai line,” said DRUC member Dantu Surya Rao.
He said a line from Sarpavaram to Pithapuram, without touching Samalkot, had been laid and goods traffic was allowed to ply. Passenger traffic is very important, he said.
People’s Voice convener Dusarlapudi Ramana Raju attributed the Centre dropping the project to the inefficiency of the Kakinada MP.
“The Kakinada MP should secure the Kakinada-Pithapuram railway line project or he should resign from the post,” he said.
Mr Narasimham said already the issue has been brought to the notice of railway minister Piyush Goyal and he made a promise to continue the project. He said efforts were being made for achieving the project.
Alternative line proposed
Some experts have suggested an alternative if the Centre felt that the the Kakinada-Pithapuram main railway line was not feasible.
Zonal Railway Users’ Committee member Y.D. Ramarao submitted a representation to the railways ministry.
The new proposal says Kakinada could be linked via Annavaram and Ravikampadu stations through the greenfield port, taken up by the GMR Group and Kakinada Special Economic Zone as it will link all ports in the state.
“If industries come up in the KSEZ area and GMR port becomes to a reality, trade will grow and there is a need for railway links. This proposed line or also the Kakinada-Pithapuram line can reduce the distance of 50 to 60 km from Visakhapatnam and Chennai,” Mr. Ramarao said.
He said the line would cover both Godavari districts and Krishna-Godavari Basin, where the people have no rail connectivity.
DRUC member and Cocanada Chamber of Commerce president Dantu Surya Rao said without linking Kakinada to Pithapuram, there was no use for the Kakinada-Kotipalli-Amalapuram-Nara-sapur line. He said coconut and agri-products can be exported through this line and the railways would earn huge revenues. The Kotipalli-Narasapur railway line is 57.21 km and the estimated budget is Rs 1,045.20 crore.
The RITES, which conducted geotechnical investigation, suggested three bridges. In all, 180.525 acres of land had been acquired between Kotipalli and Amalapuram and the process was continuing.
Mr Surya Rao said the railways should complete the alternative railway line linking the coastal area to the Vizag-Chennai line.
