Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu and A.P. Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu, along with Waltair Divisional Railway Manager Lalit Bohra, formally inaugurated experimental stoppages for train nos. 58506 and 58505 (Visakhapatnam Gunupur Visakhapatnam Passenger) at Harischandrapuram and train no. 18117 (Rourkela Gunupur Rourkela Rajyarani Express) at Pathapatnam railway stations on Friday (March 20).
Addressing a gathering at Harischandrapuram station, Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu said the station is located beside the National Highway and that there had been a demand for a halt there for nearly 20 years, which has now been fulfilled.
He said his aim is to provide a direct train between Srikakulam and Hyderabad. At present, passengers from Srikakulam have to travel to Visakhapatnam or depend on trains from Bhubaneswar. He added that the matter has been taken up with the Railway Minister.
Mr. Atchannaidu said he would take responsibility for construction of approach roads to the railway stations where new halts have been provided in Srikakulam district.
The experimental stoppage at Harischandrapuram was inaugurated at 8.33 a.m., while the halt at Pathapatnam station was inaugurated at 11.51 a.m. Pathapatnam MLA Mamidi Govinda Rao, Parlakhemundi MLA R. K. Panigrahi and Mr. Lalit Bohra participated in the programme at Pathapatnam.
