Title - 4 New Express Trains for Andhra Pradesh: Pavan Kumar Bansal

Hyderabad:  Central Railway minister Pavan Kumar Bansal informed that 4 new trains will be launched in Andhra Pradesh.  These new trains will be launched within ten days. The new trains that will be introduced are Visakha – Chennai week end express, Visakha – Sai Nagar Shirdi week end express, Karimnagar Tirupati week end express and Kakinada – Secunderabad express.Railway Minister Pavan Kumar said that 16 new trains will be introduced soon including two Duronto and one shatabdi express in India.  There are 4 trains for Andhra Pradesh.  These trains will be launched within ten days, he said.  Pavan Kumar Bansal was talking to reporters along with Surya Prakash Reddy and Adhin Choudary.  Four of the total 16 trains were announced in 2011-12 budget.  Chennai-Madurai, Chennai-Trivandrum Duronto, Jaipur-Agra Shatabdi is among the new trains.
The new trains announced for Andhra Pradesh are –

Visakhapatnam-Chennai 22870/22869 Karimnagar-Tirupati 12761/12762 express Visakhapatnam-Sainagar Shirdi 22801/22802 Kakinada-Secunderabad AC express 12775/12776 The service frequency of Secunderabad-Tirupati trains that runs via Kachiguda, Done, Gutti and Dhramavaram is increased. Pavan Kumar Bansal, Railway Minister also informed that foot over bridges similar to those in Tirupati Railway station will be constructed in various stations. He said he visited Tirupati railway station recently and the station is very good.

Talking about the vacancies that exist in Railways, Pavan Kumar Bansal said that there are two lakh vacancies in Railways and 1.2 lakhs are already filled.  Remaining vacancies will also be filled soon.  He said they are trying to complete the pending projects.  Talking about the proposal to hike train charges, he said it is necessary that trains charges be hiked.  But he did not inform when the ticket price will be increased.  He said they are planning to establish Charges Control authority.  He also said when compared to train charges in China, Indian Railway is offering services for fewer charges.

Pavan Kumar Bansal commented that increasing the ticket charges in Trains is a decision being influenced by political reasons and thus an independent controlling authority should be established.  Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy said that they are concentrating on improving various services such as safety, cleanliness, food, cloak rooms and waiting halls in railway stations.  He informed that there are 39 pending projects in Andhra Pradesh and 10 projects will be completed soon.  He assured that in the coming budget funds will be allotted to as many projects as possible.