Date:17/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/17/stories/2008031753300300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Political will lacking to lay new rail line: KPA

Staff Reporter

Time people of Kakinada took to agitations, says its president

KPA has been demanding rail line between Pithapuram and Kakinada
Opposes setting apart of 30 per cent of tickets for Tatkal quota

Kakinada: The Kakinada Passengers’ Association (KPA) has reiterated its plea for laying a new railway line between Pithapuram and Kakinada to bring the latter on the main route of the South Central Railway (SCR).

Introduction of a daily express train from Kakinada to Hyderabad, in addition to the existing Gautami Express, and trains to Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata from the port town were the other main demands voiced by the KPA in its meeting held here on Sunday. On the occasion, KPA founder S.S. Krishnaji said it was time for the people of Kakinada to once again agitate for their demands as no Railway Minister had ever cared for their convenience and none of the people’s representatives, barring a few exceptions like the former MP, U.V. Krishnam Raju, evinced interest in securing better amenities for the passengers of Kakinada.

Lal Bahadur’s letter

Mr. Krishnaji, a septuagenarian, said that the former Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Sastri, had, in a letter written to him, opined that Kakinada would never be able to get itself converted into the main line unless pressure was exerted by none other than the Chief Minister of the day.

But, what the people got was mere empty rhetoric from the Members of Parliament.

The result was that Kakinada main railway line and other proposals continued to be in the limbo several decades after they were taken to the notice of the highest echelons of the Railway Ministry and all those who mattered.

The KPA had also expressed anguish that nearly 30 per cent of all tickets were being set apart for Tatkal reservations and they were opened for booking 15-20 days in advance, in blatant violation of the norm of one or two days before the date of journey.

Tatkal had made securing tickets in the normal course very difficult as the passengers had to plan more than a month in advance.

KPA president Y.D. Rama Rao, secretary A.V. Phani Kumar, members T. Rajya Lakshmi, J. Rama Rao and others expressed concern at the lack of political will to solve the problems of people of Kakinada.