South Coast Railway Zone gazette: Andhra CM Naidu hails Visakhapatnam HQ launch
Synopsis
The Centre's gazette notification creating the South Coast Railway Zone — with Visakhapatnam as headquarters and operations from 1 June 2026 — ends a decades-long demand from North Andhra communities who felt chronically underserved by the existing rail structure. The reorganisation of the Waltair Division and merger of key sections could reshape freight and industrial connectivity across Uttarandhra.
Key Takeaways
The Centre has issued a gazette notification establishing the South Coast Railway Zone with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters.
Official operations are set to commence from 1 June 2026 , with a temporary office in Visakhapatnam.
Key rail sections — Palasa–Ichchapuram , Duvvada–Vijayanagaram , Bobbili–Salur — will be merged into the Visakhapatnam Division as part of the Waltair Division reorganisation.
A permanent office building has been approved for construction at Arilova .
CM Naidu thanked PM Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for accepting Andhra Pradesh's request.
Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu called it a victory for the people of Uttarandhra (North Andhra) .
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday, 5 May 2025, welcomed the Centre's gazette notification establishing the South Coast Railway Zone with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters, calling it the fulfilment of a long-cherished aspiration of the state's people. Official operations of the new zone are set to commence from 1 June 2026.
What the Gazette Notification Establishes
The Railway Ministry's gazette notification formally creates the South Coast Railway Zone, headquartered at Visakhapatnam. As part of the reorganisation, the Waltair Division will be restructured, with key rail sections — including Palasa–Ichchapuram, Duvvada–Vijayanagaram, and Bobbili–Salur — merged into the newly formed Visakhapatnam Division. A coordinated framework between the Visakhapatnam Division and the Rayagada Division is also envisaged to further strengthen the regional rail network.
A permanent office building has been greenlit for construction at Arilova, while a temporary office is set to begin operations from 1 June 2026, according to state government statements.
CM Naidu's Reaction
Point of View
However, will be execution: whether the new zonal structure translates into faster freight clearances, better passenger services, and genuine industrial investment in Uttarandhra's underdeveloped belt. Past railway zone creations in India have sometimes produced administrative overhead without proportionate service improvement. The Visakhapatnam zone will need to demonstrate early wins — on port connectivity, industrial sidings, and rural last-mile access — to justify the decades of political capital spent on its creation.
NationPress
6 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the South Coast Railway Zone and where is its headquarters?
The South Coast Railway Zone is a newly notified railway administrative zone created by the Central Government via gazette notification. Its headquarters is located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with operations scheduled to begin from 1 June 2026.
Why was the South Coast Railway Zone created?
The zone was created to address the long-pending demand of North Andhra (Uttarandhra) communities, who argued the region was underserved by the existing rail administrative structure. It is expected to improve connectivity and catalyse industrial growth in the region.
What changes will happen to the Waltair Division?
The Waltair Division will be reorganised, with key sections including Palasa–Ichchapuram, Duvvada–Vijayanagaram, and Bobbili–Salur merged into the newly formed Visakhapatnam Division, which will coordinate with the Rayagada Division.
When will the South Coast Railway Zone begin operations?
The temporary office of the South Coast Railway Zone in Visakhapatnam is set to commence operations from 1 June 2026. A permanent office building has been approved for construction at Arilova.
Who were the key political figures credited with making the South Coast Railway Zone a reality?
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu have all been credited by state leaders for the zone's creation.
