Date:07/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/07/stories/2008100759350300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Garib Rath to roll soon

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: Garib Rath, a fully air-conditioned train from Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam, will start operations soon. An assurance to this effect was given to Visakhapatnam MP N. Janardhan Reddy by South Central Railway General Manager H.K. Padhi at Hyderabad on Monday. The MP held discussions with the General Manager on the Garib Rath and other facilities in Visakhapatnam.

Mr. Padhi informed Mr. Janardhan Reddy that the South Central Railway was committed to run the Garib Rath. The Railway Ministry was informed by the SCR of “its readiness” to run the train immediately. “We are waiting for the approval of the Railway Ministry to run the train,” Mr. Padhi told the MP.

The Railway Minister announced in the Railway Budget that the Garib Rath would be run between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam. However, the South Central Railway announced its plans to run the train from Anakapalle. Amid protests from the public, the plans were shelved and a Puja Special train introduced to clear the rush.

A press release from Mr. Janardhan Reddy’s office said he had been actively pursuing the issue of facilities for Waltair Railway Division ever since became MP.