‘Longstanding demand fulfiled’: PM Modi lays foundation for South Coast Railway zone

“For a long time, there was a demand for a separate railway zone. Today this dream is coming true. After the construction of the headquarters of the South Coast Railway zone, activities related to agriculture and trade will expand in this entire area. Apart from this, the tourism sector and local economy will also get new opportunities for progress,” said Modi at the Andhra University ground.

He said Andhra Pradesh is among those states where 100% electrification has been achieved in Railways. “More than seventy railway stations in Andhra Pradesh are being developed under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Seven Vande Bharat trains and Amrit Bharat trains are also being run for ease of travel of the people of Andhra Pradesh,” said the PM.

The South Coast Railway has been carved out from parts of the East Coast Railway and South Central Railway zones. Announced on February 27, 2019, the zone was created to improve operational efficiency and provide focused service to the growing passenger and freight demands in the region. It will be one of the strategic hubs for operations in Andhra Pradesh.

The zone covers a significant portion of Andhra Pradesh, including parts of Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Its key divisions include Vijayawada Division (from South Central Railway), Guntur Division (from South Central Railway) and parts of Waltair Division (from East Coast Railway), that is Visakhapatnam.

Railways officials said that the new zone will strengthen the freight corridors for handling cargo from Visakhapatnam and Krishnapatnam ports.

“It will support industrial and agricultural growth in the region. Along with this, it will enhance logistics for major ports like Visakhapatnam and Krishnapatnam. The zone will boost tourism to Tirupati and other cultural landmarks in Andhra Pradesh,” said a senior railway official.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha has opposed the move and said that the carving out of the revenue-generating part of East Coast Railway, which is headquartered in Bhubaneswar, will have economic repercussions for the state.

Railways officials said that till the completion of the headquarters and appointment of the staff, Visakhapatnam shall remain in the East Coast Railway.