Railway Board report against Special Zone to AP

Reports are emerging that the Railway Board deployed to check the need of Special Railway Zone to Andhra Pradesh has opined that the state is not eligible for one. State MPs met Railway Board Chairman regarding this and he reportedly questioned them why Railway ministry has to compensate the state when it is bifurcated for political reasons.

He also clearly stated that the state reorganization Act only asked the Railway Board to see if the Special Railway Zone is feasible but not guaranteed the Zone to the truncated State.It has to be seen if the same is mentioned in the report too.

Special Railway Zone with Vishakapatnam as Head Quarter is one of the prime poll promise of BJP to the truncated state. Moving away from the promise will trouble BJP very much. Already there is a huge uproar in Vishakapatnam after the Zone is not given in the railway budget. It is said that BJP is holding Special Zone decision after it is opposed by Odisha MPs. Their support in Rajya Sabha is necessary for the government to move certain crucial bills and so it yielded to Odisha’s pressure.