South Coast Railway Zone to Begin Operations from June 1
India’s eighteenth railway zone headquartered in Visakhapatnam will start functioning from June 1, bringing major railway divisions under a new administrative structure and strengthening rail infrastructure development.
- South Coast Railway Zone starts from June 1
- Visakhapatnam becomes headquarters of new railway zone
- Railway divisions move under South Coast Railway Zone
A long standing demand of Andhra Pradesh is set to become reality as the South Coast Railway Zone will officially begin operations from June 1 with Visakhapatnam serving as its headquarters. The Ministry of Railways has issued the necessary gazette notification, paving the way for the launch of the country’s eighteenth railway zone.
The new zone has been created by bringing together the Vijayawada, Guntur, and Guntakal divisions that were previously under South Central Railway. In addition, the Waltair Division has been reorganized and transformed into the Visakhapatnam Division before being incorporated into the new administrative setup.
Railway officials believe the formation of the South Coast Railway Zone will improve operational efficiency and accelerate infrastructure projects across Andhra Pradesh. The move is also expected to provide greater administrative focus on regional railway development and passenger services.
The establishment of the zone fulfills a key assurance made under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014. Although the proposal was announced in the 2019 Union Budget, the implementation process required extensive restructuring before reaching the operational stage.
With the transfer of major divisions, the South Central Railway headquartered in Secunderabad will now function with a reduced network. It will continue to oversee the Hyderabad, Nanded, and reorganized Secunderabad divisions. Certain railway sections have also been adjusted to ensure smoother administration and operational convenience.
Preparations for the launch have been reviewed by senior railway officials. Operations will initially begin from a temporary facility in Visakhapatnam while work on the permanent headquarters building continues. Authorities expect the new zone to play a significant role in enhancing railway connectivity and supporting future transportation projects in Andhra Pradesh.
