Don’t clinch Waltair from ECo Rly: Naveen Patnaik

After Polavaram Project, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik raises objections on clinching of Waltair (Visakhapatnam) division from ECo Railway zone. He shoots a letter to Railways Minister Sadananda Gouda objecting the NDA government’s proposals for merging the Waltair division with the new Railway zone, likely to setup at Visakhapatnam. He demands for creating new three Railway zones in Odisha at Jajpur-Keonjhar, Rayagada and Rourkela or Jharsuguda, in case if Waltair division is handed over to new Railway zone of AP.

Actually, Waltair division is a major cargo hub for ECo Railways as there are NMDC, NALCO, Steel Plant, Port, IOC, BPCL, and HPCL plants around Vizag city. the total revenues generated from this cargo business was Rs. Rs.5275.83 million during 2012-13. The passenger traffic from Visakhapatnam is also earns a good revenue for it. The revenue generated during last year was Rs. Rs.32.94 million. So, obviously it would be very painful to lose this golden duck to Andhra Pradesh, so was Naveen writes to Centre.