The persistent call for the establishment of a Balaji railway division, with its headquarters in the sacred city of Tirupati, has resonated louder than ever on Sunday. Leaders from diverse political parties, social organizations, and chambers of trade and commerce have thrown their weight behind this significant demand, marking a pivotal moment for the long-standing cause.
At the heart of this invigorated movement is the Balaji Railway Division Sadhana Samithi, which organized a crucial meeting to enlighten all involved parties about the substantial benefits of carving out a new railway division from the existing Guntakal division.
Despite its origins in the 1990s, the dream of a new division has consistently failed to materialize, largely due to a noticeable lack of political will and consistent neglect across successive government administrations.
Kuppala Giridhar, the energetic convener of the Balaji Railway Division Sadhana Samithi, highlighted the urgency of the situation. “Following the bifurcation of the State, Andhra Pradesh’s railway infrastructure has undergone dramatic changes. With a fully operational railway zone in Visakhapatnam and two established divisions (Vijayawada and Guntur) already serving the Amaravati region, it is absolutely essential to establish the Balaji railway division in Tirupati to rectify the current imbalance in our railway landscape,” Giridhar asserted.
Prominent figures from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), including former MLC B. Changalrayudu, A.P. Yadava Welfare and Development Corporation Chairman G. Narasimha Yadav, and the party’s State secretary Mabbu Devanarayana Reddy, all acknowledged that this strategic move would significantly boost the tourism potential within the Rayalaseema region. Deputy Mayor R.C. Munikrishna further emphasized that now is the perfect time to fulfill this collective aspiration of the people.
BJP leader P. Naveen Kumar Reddy controversially attributed political pressure as the primary reason for Guntur receiving a division over Tirupati when the number of Indian railway zones expanded from nine to sixteen in 2003. Similar sentiments were voiced by Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) district president Akula Satish Kumar and K.V. Choudary, State vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce.
Kandarapu Murali, a CPI-M State executive member, delivered a powerful appeal to the Union government, urging them to respect and act upon regional aspirations. The influential meeting also saw active participation from esteemed university professors, dedicated government teachers, members of prominent autorickshaw and cab drivers’ associations, APSRTC trade union leaders, and representatives from CREDAI, underscoring the broad-based support for the Tirupati railway division.