- Four additional platforms to be constructed on the Gnanapuram-side of the station
- Diversion of trains via Duvvada was being due to inadequacy of platforms: officials
Increase in the quota of berths for Visakhapatnam in various trains, presently being diverted via Duvvada, to Visakhapatnam in a phased manner and laying of a ‘bulb line' are some of the promises extracted by Rajya Sabha Member T. Subbarami Reddy from the Railway Board officials. Informing this to the media after a meeting with the Railway Board Member (Traffic) K.K. Srivastava, Member (Personnel) A.K. Vohra, who is also the General Manager of East Coast Railway and Divisional Railway Manager N. Kashinath among others, Mr. Reddy said that he had discussed these issues and convinced the Railway Board Members and the proposals were accepted in principle. He said that eight trains were being diverted through Duvvada Station, bypassing Visakhapatnam. Three trains were already being re-routed through Visakhapatnam and the remaining trains would be brought to Visakhapatnam in a phased manner. Quoting the officials, he said that the diversion of trains via Duvvada was being done in view of inadequacy of platforms and delays in the reversal of engine. The ‘bulb line' proposal has also been accepted and expressed the hope that it would materialise in a year. The Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) has agreed to allocate land for the laying of the new line that would do away with the need for reversal of engine. Mr. Subbarami Reddy said that the Board officials had also agreed to increase the reservation quota of Visakhapatnam. He said that four additional platforms would be constructed on the Gnanapuram-side of the Railway Station. When his attention was drawn to the long-pending demand for a separate Railway Zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam, he said that he had already taken the issue to the notice of the officials several times in the past. He said that Railway officials had agreed to part with their land in two stretches and help in the completion of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project in the city.
