The Railway Budget presented by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has made no mention about the long-pending demands from Andhra Pradesh. Except for an announcement on launch of works on third line between Kazipet and Vijayawada, the Union Minister's speech was devoid of any concrete proposals relating to the State including the much-awaited announcement on separate zone and clubbing of Waltair Division with the South Central Railway.

The State has been pitching for dedicated train to Delhi post-bifurcation, on the lines of A.P. Express presently originating from Hyderabad. Mr. Suresh Prabhu's budget laid much emphasis on leveraging geospatial technology for averting mishaps at unmanned level crossings and allocation of substantial sum for replacement of ULCs.

But,issues relating to works on several lines including Vijayawada-Nidadavole-Jaggayyapet-Vishnupuram, Kakinada-Pithapuram and Obulavaripalle-Krishnapatnam have not found a mention in the Railway Minister's speech in spite of the State Government agreeing to bear 50 per cent costs on development of the lines as also doubling works on Guntur-Tenali route.

The Union Railway Minister had announced in his speech that four new dedicated freight corridors would be developed in the coming years, but had not specified the routes on which these corridors would be set, leading to apprehensions on the State getting anything. It had pinned high hopes on leveraging railway network for its port expansion plans.

There was also no mention about the allocations to Kadapa-Bangalore new railway line works which are progressing at a snail's pace. The project received green signal in the Railway Budget of 2008-09.

Railway budget 2015, Vijayawada division disappointed, New Railway Zone