There are almost no chances in near future for this AC AP express becoming anywhere near successful. Something needs to be done to improve it. Current Problems are
(1) Very long route, It should be BZA-VSKP-NDLS rather than VSKP-BZA-NDLS.
(2) Very less speed, Running a LHB full ac train on Rajdhani/Duronto route with 58kmph avg speed is insult to LHB coaches. So all ac LHB AP express is good 10% slower than old one with ICF second class coaches! One option is to make it Rajdhani class train (BZA-VSKP-NDLS) with about 75kmph avg...
more... speed. Even then the daily train shall not have full occupancy i.e. frequency has to be reduced. Not so good option
Hence the best option is to run it daily with full length (22LHB coach) as BZA-VSKP-NDLS AP exp with non ac sleeper coaches and run the train with respectable priority like early NDLS-SC AP express (avg speed around 65kmph instead of current 58kmph). There is no need for new ac train, as the (politically) mandatory Rajdhani connection already exists for BZA, the new state capital. BZA is already connected to national capital by fastest trains like Chennai Rajdhani/ Duronto/ GR and many more SFs.
Bifurcation of AP often motivates me to draw parallel between it and Bifurcation of MP in the year 2000. The two cases although are not comparable. The later one was smooth & peaceful where as the former is painful to people, new states as well as nation. City VSKP however is really on a frying pan.
After making BZA, a new state capital, why suddenly a daily ac express train to Delhi become a necessity? Creating a new state with a new capital does not mean, there will be all of a sudden jump in the traffic, enough to fill a daily fully ac train for the national capital. Thinking of our rulers (and IR) is head quarter oriented, instead of market or reality oriented. Otherwise there would have been an AC SF train between VSKP and NDLS much before bifurcation of original AP.
Likewise after formation of new state, state Govt is pressing IR hard to start construction of new coaching complex at planned Naya Raipur and IR has obliged. On the other hand the previously planned and much needed expansion of Durg coaching complex has gone to back burner. State of Chhatisgarh lost many new trains/extensions, which were denied on the ground of inadequate terminal capacity at Durg. The ground reality is there are not even 10000-20000 residents in Naya Raipur and govt is all out to make it one of the best in India! Huge network of multi-lane roads, parks, flats, developed plots in Naya Raipur lie deserted where as heavily populated localities elsewhere in the state continue to remain helter skelter.
In other words VSKP is suffering because practically decisions are taken on political considerations. There are Efforts to have BZA as HQ of proposed zone instead of VSKP where as zonal HQ at VSKP is old demand. When a new state is formed, all the administrative establishments etc are to be set up new. What booty a city in the new state will get, depend on the weightage/intention & action of its public representative(s). It is a fact that a lot of public money is spent on the capital city at the expense of other cities of the state to create often more than the required infrastructure, but the rush of funds make the capital city a prime destination of migration, politically sensitive, hot bed of crime, polluted and bereft of peace.
VSKP is going through same phase, as DURG-Bhilai twin city had gone through in the year 2000, when new Chhatisgarh state was carved out of MP. It was the largest, most revenue generating and industrial city just like VSKP is. Capital had gone to Raipur, High court to Bilaspur much to the proportion of the strength/convenience of the public representatives (PR) belonging to the area. While Durg-Bhilai with poor political dispensation remained empty handed as usual. So we he have Govt for the PRs by the PRs in the name of Public.
Population in lacs of Durg-Bhilai/Raipur/Bilaspur metropolitan area (top 3 in Chhatisgarh, rest are distinctly smaller)in last 5 census are:
1971 census 2.45/ 2.09/ 1.2
1981 census 4.95/ 3.41/ 1.8
1991 census 6.85/ 4.62/ 2.3
2001 census 9.23/ 7.00/ 3.35
2011 census 10.64/ 11.24/ 4.54
with reference to above, growth of the predominantly industrial Durg-Bhilai got hampered from around mid-eighties due to subtle state govt policies like shifting of Wholesale cloth market from Kumhari (Durg) to Pandri (Raipur) due to excessive interference in business as a result of Octroi policy. Diverting many old and new private industries mostly based on Bhilai steel plant to Raipur by subtly giving tax incentives and so on.
What VSKP gets it depends mostly on CM and the political dispensation of its city. Let us hope Durg-Bhilai story is not repeated with VSKP in long run. People and public representatives in this case are much vocal and alert than the former one and shall not let it happen again.
