The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has intensified efforts to secure the long-pending railway manufacturing unit at Kazipet, a project announced 15 months ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi but which has seen no tangible progress to date.
A delegation, led by Rajya Sabha MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra and former MLA Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar, departed for Delhi to meet Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw. The delegation aims to submit a representation emphasizing the necessity of expediting the project.
BRS Working President KT Rama Rao discussed the issue with Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar and instructed him to take up the matter. Speaking on the matter, Bhaskar reiterated, “A railway division in Warangal is a longstanding demand that has been repeatedly ignored by the Centre. Additionally, many railway posts in Telangana are being filled with candidates from North India, sidelining local aspirants.”
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The Kazipet railway manufacturing unit’s history dates back to 1982, when a coach factory was initially proposed. However, the project was later moved to Punjab during former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao’s tenure. A similar promise in 2010-11 under Mamata Banerjee’s tenure as Railway Minister also failed to materialize due to land disputes.
The project was included in the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014 as part of the special packages for Telangana. Despite this, it remained stagnant for years. In July 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone, directing the South Central Railways (SCR) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to initiate work. However, according to the Railway Board, while directives have been issued, visible progress remains elusive.
The Telangana government had earlier allocated 150 acres for the railway unit, handing it over to the Railways. However, with decades of little to no progress, the Kazipet unit remains symbolic of unfulfilled promises.
In addition to urging action on the Kazipet unit, the delegation is also advocating for the establishment of a separate railway division in Warangal and prioritizing the recruitment of Telangana natives for railway jobs. “The exclusion of Telangana candidates from key positions is an injustice that must be addressed,” stated Bhaskar.
With no significant headway made over the years, the BRS’s latest push reflects mounting frustration over unkept promises. The outcome of the meeting with the Union Railway Minister will be closely watched by stakeholders across the state as the demand for regional development continues to grow.
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