Date:18/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/18/stories/2008071852550300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Rail line: Krishnaji plans hunger strike

Staff Reporter

Kakinada: Nearly six decades after its approval by the erstwhile Central Board of Transport, the Kakinada-Pithapuram railway line project remains in the limbo. This is despite politicians reiterating their commitment to secure the final nod for it.

In the absence of any positive sign of it being sanctioned in the near future, founder of Cocanada Town Passengers’ Association S.S. Krishnaji is preparing for yet another fast-unto-death agitation in September to exert pressure on the Central and State Governments to fulfil the dream of people of Kakinada.

It was in September 2006 that Mr. Krishnaji was forced to give up his hunger strike by Union Minister of State for Defence and Kakinada MP M.M. Pallam Raju.

MP’s promise

The Minister then had reportedly promised to quit his post and join the octogenarian’s crusade for the project if he failed to get it sanctioned in six months. But, nothing happened till now except the reported allotment of meagre sums for the 23-km railway line, which was originally estimated to cost Rs. 50 crores.

Mr. Krishnaji told The Hindu that the present state of affairs was as dismal as it had been for the past few decades.

I find no other way to put pressure on the powers that be other than by sitting on hunger strike, he added.