SCR is taking all measures to dilute the Kazipet junction by transferring loco-running staff to Bejawada and other depots
KAZIPET, MARCH 28, 2025: The Union Government is diluting the cause of upgrading the existing Kazipet junction into a railway division by transferring a total of 185 employees of the Kazipet loco-running staff to various depots including Bezawada (Andhra Pradesh state).
The sources alleged that the South Central Railway management at the behest of the Union government had taken the decision to transfer 185 loco-running staff to various depots only to weaken the Kazipet and deny its changes of being upgraded into a Railway division.
The upgradation of the Kazipet junction into a Railway division was a long-cherished dream of the people of Telangana in general and Kazipet-Warangal-Hanamkonda tri-cities in particular. Upgradation of the junction into a railway division would ensure more employment for the locals and the launching of several new trains from Kazipet to various destinations.
The railway coach factory also remained a distant dream in Kazipet in spite of its mention in the AP States Organisation Act, 2014, the sources said and added that the officials were planning to dilute the chances of Kazipet becoming a Railway division by reducing the staff by transferring them to various other depots.
As part of the plan to dilute the cause of securing the Railway division to Kazipet, the SCR authorities had transferred the coaching links to Vijayawada recently. Following which, the loco-pilots launched serious agitations with the support of local politicians. When the agitation intensified, the SCR authorities held talks with the loco-running pilots and some of the trains from Wadi-Bidar sections were allocated to Kazipet junction as an eye-wash. Later, these trains were also allocated to other depots.
The railway sources said that the officials were clandestinely taking all measures to dilute the crew depot of Kazipet by not allocating any new staff and transferring existing staff by promoting them and other reasons. In the year 2020, there were 623 staff in the Kazipet crew depot which had come down to 501 in 2023 and 470 in the year 2025, they complained. Against the sanction strength of 790 at Kazipet crew depot, now it had come down to 542 following the removal of 248 posts.
Sources alleged that the Union government to strengthen the BJP in the Andhra Pradesh state has been according top priority for various developmental works. Accordingly, it had promised Visakapatnam railway zone and planning to include Vijayawada division into the zone and hence it was strengthening the Bejawada railways by transferring the staff from Kazipet division, they alleged.
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