TDP MPs, ministers observe one-day fast seeking new rly zone

Telugu Desam Party MPs today observed a day-long fast demanding that the Centre immediately establish a new railway zone with headquarters here.

The MPs said they would stall Parliament in the coming monsoon session if the Centre immediately did not fulfil the promise of setting up the new railway zone.

Deputy Chief Minister (Home) N China Rajappa, ministers Ch Ayyanna Patrudu and Ganta Srinivasa Rao too joined the fast in solidarity with the MPs.

The TDP MPs staged the protest near the railway station here demanding that the Centre immediately establish a new railway zone as per the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

They accused the Narendra Modi government of not "fulfilling" the promises made in the Reorganisation Act.

Despite repeated pleas and negotiations over the last four years, the Centre did not move a step forward to set up the new railway zone, they alleged.

"We have been fighting, both inside and outside Parliament, for the implementation of the promises made in the Reorganisation Act.

The Centre is still singing the same song that establishment of the railway zone is under consideration," Anakapalli MP M Srinivasa Rao said.

Waltair (Visakhapatnam) Division was one of the highest revenue generating regions for Indian Railways, he said.

The Centre did not fulfil any promise made in the Reorganisation Act, Hindupur MP Nimmala Kistappa said.

"Be it the Visakhapatnam railway zone, Dugarajapatnam port or Kadapa steel plant...no major promise has been honoured.

We have been constantly fighting with the Centre over this," Kistappa added.

"Ours is a new state and we need a new railway zone. Apart from Waltair, Vijayawada, Guntur and Guntakal divisions should be clubbed into the new zone," Rajahmundry MP M Murali Mohan said.

The MPs asserted that they would continue their fight till the Centre conceded their demand and set up the railway zone.

MPs P Ashok Gajapati Raju, K Rammohan Naidu, Maganti Venkateswara Rao, Konakalla Narayana Rao, J C Diwakar Reddy, and Butta Renuka also participated in the protest.

The TDP has intensified its attacks on the BJP-led government at the Centre after quitting the ruling NDA alliance in March last, alleging failure in fulfilling the promises made in the State Reorganisation Act.