Latest news with #KanchumurthiEswar
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Visakhapatnam Junction to have 14 platforms to cater to the growing demand
The redevelopment of Visakhapatnam Railway Station, which is among the top 20 stations in India in passenger revenue for the financial year 2023-24, has begun after much delay. Visakhapatnam Junction will have 14 platforms to cater to the growing demand. In fact, Visakhapatnam Junction was the highest revenue earner among all the railway stations in the Bhubaneswar-headquartered East Coast Railway (ECoR) during 2022-23 and 2021-22 financial years also, according to data obtained by Kanchumurthi Eswar of Duvvada under the RTI Act. It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of Visakhapatnam Railway Station, at an estimated cost of ₹456 crore, on November 12, 2022. The redeveloped station is designed to cater to the needs of 75,000 passengers a day. The work commenced in the first quarter of 2023 but was subsequently held up reportedly due to issues with the contractor. Notwithstanding the delay, there is enough reason for people of the city to cheer up. The redeveloped Visakhapatnam Junction will have six new platforms taking the total to 14. It may be recalled that a survey for construction of new platforms was conducted more than a decade ago to reduce the congestion at the station. There were demands for construction of four additional platforms ever since. The station redevelopment plan originally included provision for construction of two new platforms. A revised DPR submitted to make Visakhapatnam Junction as a terminal station with six additional platforms, major yard remodelling works to prevent criss-crossing of trains, leaving and entering Visakhapatnam Railway Station, is under consideration of the railways, according to sources. It is learnt that of the six new platforms, two would be terminal platforms for the operation of Vande Bharat Express trains, which do not require engine reversal. A coach maintenance depot would be established in Visakhapatnam for the maintenance of Vande Bharat express trains. 'The revised master plan for redevelopment of the entire station, including yard redevelopment, provision of new escalators and 12 m wide FOB have been submitted, and it is under consideration of the authorities concerned,' Divisional Railway Manager Lalit Bohra told The Hindu. 'The delay in the redevelopment work of the station is because the old contractor approaching the court on the issue. We (railways) have won the case and the construction work would be hastened,' he added.
Hans India
02-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Waltair division champions sustainable efforts to curb plastic pollution
Visakhapatnam: In a concerted effort to promote a sustainable environment, foster community participation, and reduce plastic pollution across the railway network, Indian Railways launched a comprehensive clean environment campaign involving passengers, NGOs, students, and the general public The initiative was rolled out as a prelude to the observance of World Environment Day and will be celebrated across Indian Railways until June 5. As part of the celebrations, the Waltair Division has undertaken proactive steps to educate people about environmental conservation. Awareness drives have been initiated at station premises to inform the public about the ban on single-use plastics and their impact on the environment. Passengers are being encouraged to carry reusable steel bottles in an effort to reduce plastic waste. The Environment and Housekeeping Department of Waltair Division has initiated special drives to enhance waste management across the division. These drives include cleanliness campaigns at railway stations and surrounding areas, and in railway establishments, with enthusiastic participation from local communities and NGOs. Speaking on the occasion, Divisional Railway Manager Lalit Bohra emphasised that the initiative aims to strengthen waste management practices and reinforce the ban on single-use plastics at railway stations. He stated that awareness campaigns are being actively conducted to educate passengers about responsible waste disposal and the importance of environmental sustainability. To make the drive more effective, nukkad nataks (street plays) will be organised at various stations to highlight the harmful effects of plastic use. As part of the campaign, a programme was held at Duvvada railway station under the guidance of Kanchumurthi Eswar, member of the Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committee, East Coast Railway, in the presence of GVMC corporator Muthyala Naidu, sanitary staff, and Duvvada railway station teams.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Awareness rally, Swachh Bharat drive held at Duvvada railway station
An awareness rally and a Swachh Bharat drive were conducted on platform no. 4 at Duvvada railway station as part of an environmental campaign organised jointly by Duvvada Railway Users Association (DRUA), Vignan Engineering College, and Lions Club on Sunday. The rally was flagged off by Muthyala Naidu, corporator of the 88th Ward in Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC). Participants carried placards and banners and promoted eco-awareness, which drew the attention of passengers boarding and alighting the trains at the station. ZRUCC Member Kanchumurthi Eswar, DRUA president V. Jashuva, along with members R. Ravi and Kameswara Rao, Muralidhar Reddy and K.V. Subbaraju of Lions Club, students and staff of Vignan College, and Sundarmurty of Spandhana Cheyutha Foundation, participated in the event.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Halt Sought for Vande Bharat at Duvvada
Visakhapatnam: Kanchumurthi Eswar, a member of the Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committee of the East Coast Railway, along with railway activist Venkati B, submitted several key requests to the Waltair railway division aimed at improving rail services in the region. They urged for a halt of the Vande Bharat Express trains — train Nos. 20833/20834 (Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad) and 20707/20708 (Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam) — at Duvvada station. They also advocated for the introduction of Vande Bharat sleeper-class trains from Visakhapatnam to Bengaluru, routed through Tirupati and Chennai, to enhance regional connectivity. Eswar and Venkati also proposed increasing the frequency of several long-distance trains, recommending the conversion of weekly services to daily operations on routes such as Visakhapatnam–Kollam, Visakhapatnam–Shirdi, Visakhapatnam–Gandhidham, Visakhapatnam–Varanasi, and Visakhapatnam–Chennai. Additionally, they addressed the urgent need for temporary coach augmentation for train No. 22707 (Visakhapatnam–Tirupati), which currently operates with only 11 coaches. They suggested adding third AC or second AC coaches to meet increased passenger demand during peak seasons. They also requested the divisional railway manager (DRM) and other officials to visit Duvvada station to assess its infrastructure, passenger amenities, and developmental needs on the ground.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Duvvada halt for Vizag-Secunderabad Vande Bharat trains urged
Member of the Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) Kanchumurthi Eswar appealed to Divisional Railway Manager Lalit Bohra and Senior Divisional Commercial Manager K. Saandeep to provide a halt to Visakhapatnam-Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express trains at Duvvada. The ZRUCC member, along with rail activist Venkati B., met the DRM on Thursday and drew his attention to the need for provision of a halt to train no. 20833/20834 Visakhapatnam-Secunderabad and 20707/20708 Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express trains for the convenience of scores of passengers, from south and western side of Visakhapatnam city, who utilise Duvvada railway station. He also sought introduction of Sleeper-Class Vande Bharat Trains between Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru via Tirupati and Chennai for improved connectivity in view of the high demand on this route. The other demands include: converting the weekly services between Visakhapatnam and Kollam, Shirdi, Gandhidham, Varanasi and Chennai in view of the high demand and overwhelming patronage to these trains and augmentation of coaches for 22707 Visakhapatnam-Tirupati, which is presently being operated with only 11 coaches. Mr. Eswar appealed to the DRM to visit Duvvada Railway Station along with his team to assess the ground-level infrastructure, passenger amenities and overall requirements for development.
