Centre Approves South Coast Railway Zone with Headquarters at Visakhapatnam

Introduction

Union Government has officially notified formation of new South Coast Railway zone under the headquarters of Visakhapatnam.

The new railway zone will be operational from June 1, 2026.

This decision is crucial for railway administration and infrastructure development in Andhra Pradesh. The transaction aims to enhance the efficiency of railway operations, improve regional connectivity and strengthen railway management.

The zone has been formed with the reorganization of railway divisions as provided in the Railways Act, 1989.

The South Coast Railway Zone!

Indian Railways has recently created a railway zone, South Coast Railway (SCoR).

It has been re-organised from:

• South Central Railway
• East Coast Railway

The area will primarily cater to the needs of Andhra Pradesh and its adjoining areas.

Divisions Included in the New Zone

The new South Coast Railway zone will include:

• Guntakal division
• Guntur division
• Vijayawada division

These divisions were previously a part of South Central Railway (SCR).

The restructured portion will now be a part of the South Coast Railway's division at Visakhapatnam.

This is Waltair Division reorganization.

The existing Waltair division will be divided into two parts.

One part will:

Become part of the new Rayagada division under East Coast Railway

The other part will:

According to the South Coast Railway, the division takes over the role of the Visakhapatnam division.

The restructuring is meant to be more efficient in administration.

New Rayagada Division

The Centre has also sanctioned setting up of the Rayagada division under the East Coast Railway.

This division will be effective from June 1, 2026.

After reorganization:

• The headquarters of the East Coast Railway will continue to be at Bhubaneswar.
• It will consist of Sambalpur, Khurda Road and Rayagada divisions.

Changes in South Central Railway

After the restructuring:

• The headquarters of South Central Railway will continue to be at Secunderabad.
• It will continue to have Hyderabad, Nanded, and re-constituted Secunderabad divisions.It will have Hyderabad, Nanded and re-constituted Secunderabad divisions.

Railway administrative boundaries have also been modified in some places to facilitate railway administration.