TDP leader slams YSRCP over credit for railway zone

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Andhra Pradesh president Palla Srinivasa Rao on Wednesday criticised YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, alleging that the party was attempting to take credit for the Visakhapatnam Railway Zone.

Addressing the media here after participating in several local programmes, he said the YSRCP was making baseless allegations for political gain and trying to mislead the public on the issue.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao questioned why the previous YSRCP government, which was in power from 2019 to 2024, did not take concrete steps to secure a separate railway zone for the region during its tenure. He said the issue had remained unresolved during those five years.

He maintained that the South Coastal Railway Zone became a reality only after the coalition government assumed office. According to him, decisive efforts by the present government and coordination with the Centre helped in moving the proposal forward.

He thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Minister Nara Lokesh for their role in facilitating the process. He also acknowledged the support of the Union government in issuing the gazette notification.

Welcoming the Centre’s notification on the South Coastal Railway Zone, Mr. Srinivasa Rao described it as a historic milestone for Andhra Pradesh. He said it marked the fulfilment of a long-pending demand of the people of North Andhra, particularly for a Visakhapatnam-based railway zone.

He further said that the decision would strengthen railway infrastructure and improve connectivity in the region. Expressing satisfaction over the development, he noted that operations of the new railway zone are scheduled to begin from June 1, calling it a significant step forward for the state’s transport network.