South Coast Railway Zone to begin operations from June 1

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

A long-standing aspiration of the people of Andhra Pradesh is set to become a reality with the launch of the South Coast Railway (SCoR), the 18th railway zone in the country. Headquartered in Visakhapatnam, the new zone will officially commence operations from June 1, following the issuance of a gazette notification by the Ministry of Railways.

The new railway zone has been formed by reorganising divisions from existing railway zones. The Vijayawada, Guntur, and Guntakal divisions, which were previously under the South Central Railway (SCR), along with the Waltair Division of the East Coast Railway (ECoR), have been brought under the newly created South Coast Railway. As part of the restructuring, the Waltair Division has been reorganised and redesignated as the Visakhapatnam Division.

The establishment of the new zone fulfils a key commitment made under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The proposal was first announced in the 2019 Union Budget, and after several years of administrative and operational planning, it is now set to become operational.

The reorganisation is expected to significantly reduce the jurisdiction of South Central Railway, which is headquartered in Secunderabad. While SCR currently operates six divisions, it will now function with the Hyderabad, Nanded, and reorganised Secunderabad divisions. Certain railway sections, including Palasa–Ichchapuram and Raichur–Wadi, have also been adjusted to facilitate smoother administrative operations.

Railway officials believe the new zone will improve administrative efficiency and accelerate railway infrastructure development across Andhra Pradesh. It is also expected to enhance project execution, operational management, and passenger services in the state.

Senior railway officials have reviewed preparations for the formal launch on June 1. Operations will initially begin from a temporary office complex in Visakhapatnam, while work on the permanent zonal headquarters is currently underway.

The launch of South Coast Railway marks a significant milestone for Andhra Pradesh and is expected to play a key role in strengthening the state’s rail connectivity and infrastructure development in the coming years.