Balaji Sadhana Samithi Railway Divisional Convener Kuppala Giridhara Kumar at a meeting in Tirupati on Sunday. | Photo credit: KV Poornachandra Kumar
Speakers at a round table meeting organized by the Balaji Sadhana Samithi Railway Division explained the need to create a separate railway division based in Tirupati to exert sustained pressure to implement the pending projects in the region on time.
Although the South Coast Railway (ScoR) zone at Visakhapatnam was mandated under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, it is yet to become fully operational even after a decade. Similarly, the new division at Tirupati may remain a pipe dream till the zone reaches full operational status, opined the speakers.
Samith Convenor Kuppala Giridhara Kumar chaired the meeting to shed light on the ongoing projects in the region and the need to expedite them through sustained focus.
He said the 288 km long Vijayawada-Gudur third line approved in 2015-16 has completed only one-third of the total work, the 309 km long Nadikudi-Srikalahasti line approved in 2011-12 has completed only 46 km, the 255 km long Kadapa-Bengal new line where 000809 is in Bengal 21 km has been commissioned so far section. Similarly, they demanded better facilities at Tirupati West and Tiruchanur railway stations besides upgrading the Carriage Repair Shop (CRS) at Renigunta in line with increasing operational demand.
Center for Rayalaseema Studies President Bhuman, veteran contractor M. Venugopal Reddy, senior journalist Palavali Ramachandra Reddy and former academician C. Swarajyalakshmi urged the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) to send a proposal to this effect to the Railway Board and Ministry of Railways to gain serious traction.
The speakers argued that the division of Balaji was a legitimate and legitimate demand and expressed confidence that sustained public pressure and political follow-up by MPs would yield results.
Published – 16 Nov 2025 20:34 IST
