Title - ‘Raw deal for Srikakulam in railway budget’

Opposition parties and civil society groups on Tuesday deplored the railway budget alleging that it had not done anything to Srikakulam district though the passengers of the region were demanding more trains and new railway line between Rajam and Kalingapatnam.Howrah-Chennai by-weekly, Tirupati-Bhubaneswar weekly express trains were announced in the budget but passengers were doubtful about Srikakulam quota of berths. Around 23 trains that are passing through Srikakulam town don’t stop here though all the parties had been requesting for the stoppage, he said.CPI(M) leader Panchadi Paparao alleged that ministers from Srikakulam district failed to protect the interests of the people.“Many people frequently travel to distant places in search of employment. They are forced to go to Visakhapatnam due to non availability of berths in many trains from Srikakulam,” he added.Srikakulam Citizens Forum president Baratam Kameswara Rao alleged that the Union government had put lot of burden on the passengers with the upward revision of reservation and tatkal charges. “Interests of the Srikakulam were completely ignored. No new trains were announced. The railway authorities should announce at least stoppages of trains at Srikakulam Road,” he added.

Rasta roko staged

CPI (M) district committee on Tuesday organised a rasta roko at RTC complex here against the injustice done to the district in the Railway Budget.

Party secretary M. Krishna Murty said that once again the district received raw deal in the Railway Budget despite demand for new passenger/ express trains from here to the state capital.

The Railway Minister while maintaining that people would not be burdened with additional hike had increased superfast express and reservation charges.

Party leaders T. Suryanarayana, R. Sankar Rao and others participated in the protest.