There doesn’t seem to be a scientific approach in the allotment of coaches by the Indian Railways. Proposals sent by the Zonal Headquarters seem to be the only basis for allotment, and the zonal authorities are using their discretionary powers to get the new rakes allocated for trains of their choice.
A circular issued by the Railway Board last month allotting four LHB (Linke Holfmann Bush) rakes to the East Coast Railway (ECoR) from the 2012-13 production for replacement of the old rakes of the Puri–New Delhi Purushottam Express, indicates bias in the allocation of new coaches. The ECoR has already been allotted LHB rakes for Bhubaneswar–Nizamabad Rajdhani and the Bhubaneswar–Nizamuddin Duronto. Incidentally, all these trains travel on the same route.
The ECoR can utilise two rakes for the Howrah–Puri Jagannath Express and allot one to Visakhapatnam for the Visakhapatnam–LTT Express or Visakhapatnam–Nizamuddin Swarna Jayanthi and the other rake for another weekly train from either Bhubaneswar or Puri, feel passengers from Visakhapatnam. They lament over the continued ‘injustice’ being done to the highest revenue earning division in the zone, Waltair Division, which has turned out to be the proverbial ‘golden goose’ for the ECoR. Even the conventional coaches allotted to Visakhapatnam for other trains are ‘over-used’ rakes depriving the passengers of a comfortable journey.
It may be recalled that Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari had realised the problem after travelling in the Janmabhoomi Express in the past. She had brought the issue of old coaches to the notice of the then Chairman of the Railway Board Vivek Sahay, but there was no improvement in the situation.
Diversion of trains
Six trains continue to bypass Visakhapatnam railway station. The diversion of trains has been continuing for the past few years despite protests against it from the people. “The base pool at Puri is releasing second hand coaches to Visakhapatnam,” according to reliable sources.
New time table
The new railway timetable would be released on July 1 and people’s representatives from Visakhapatnam should act immediately to get the diverted trains re-routed through Visakhapatnam.
It’s learnt that the zonal authorities have sent proposals for re-routing of only one of the six trains being diverted via Duvvada, and unless there is pressure from the elected representatives the ‘injustice’ to the people of the city would continue.
