Parliamentary Railways Panel to Visit Visakhapatnam
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways will visit Visakhapatnam district on January 3 as part of a study tour. The 30-member committee, comprising 20 Lok Sabha members and 10 Rajya Sabha members, is chaired by Dr C M Ramesh.
During the visit, the committee will hold informal discussions with senior officials from key central government departments and rail-linked organisations. On January 4, the members are also scheduled to visit major tourist destinations in and around Visakhapatnam and Araku.
On January 3, the committee will hold a focused informal discussion with the General Manager of East Coast Railway, CMD of CONCOR, MD of DFCCIL, CMDs of Coal India Limited and the Food Corporation of India, and the Chairperson of the Visakhapatnam Port Authority. The discussion will centre on the topic “Diversification of the Freight Basket of Indian Railways.”
A senior official said the visit was aimed at gaining first-hand inputs from stakeholders. “The committee wants to understand how freight diversification can improve railway revenues and support regional economic growth,” the official said.
Another official added that Visakhapatnam was chosen for its strategic importance. “With the port, rail connectivity, and industrial presence, the region offers a comprehensive view of freight movement challenges and opportunities,” the official noted.