Visakhapatnam, 01 June (HS): The South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone, headquartered in Visakhapatnam, officially commenced operations on Monday, marking a major milestone in Andhra Pradesh's railway history and fulfilling a demand that has persisted for more than a decade.

The new zone was formally inaugurated by Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Srikakulam MP Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, who unveiled the South Coast Railway name board at A.S. Peta near Ichapuram in Srikakulam district.

South Coast Railway becomes the 18th railway zone in India and is expected to play a key role in improving railway administration, operational efficiency, passenger services and freight movement across Andhra Pradesh.

The Ministry of Railways had issued a gazette notification on May 4, 2026, formally constituting the new zone with effect from June 1, 2026. The zone has been carved out from portions of the existing East Coast Railway and South Central Railway zones.

As part of the restructuring, the Waltair Division of East Coast Railway has been bifurcated. One section will continue under East Coast Railway as the newly created Rayagada Division, while the remaining section has been integrated into South Coast Railway as the Visakhapatnam Division.

Railway officials believe the creation of the new zone will bring administrative decision-making closer to the region, accelerate infrastructure development and strengthen connectivity to major ports, industrial corridors and emerging economic hubs in Andhra Pradesh.

The operationalisation of South Coast Railway is also expected to boost regional development by improving railway planning, enhancing logistics efficiency and facilitating future expansion projects.

The demand for a separate railway zone for Andhra Pradesh gained momentum after the bifurcation of the state in 2014 and was frequently raised by political parties, industry groups and public representatives. With the launch of South Coast Railway, that long-standing aspiration has now become a reality.

The headquarters of the new zone will function from Visakhapatnam, reinforcing the city's growing importance as a strategic transport, industrial and maritime hub on India's eastern coast.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar