South Coast Railway zone: No Odisha territory lost, Indian Railways clarifies
Synopsis
Indian Railways has pushed back hard against claims that Odisha will lose territory under the new South Coast Railway zone, insisting the disputed Palasa-Ichchapuram stretch lies entirely within Andhra Pradesh. But with BJD, Congress, and Left parties demanding a rollback, the political battle over the reorganisation is far from over before the June 2026 deadline.
Key Takeaways
Indian Railways clarified on 6 May 2025 that no part of Odisha is being transferred to Andhra Pradesh under the South Coast Railway zone formation.
The disputed Palasa-Ichchapuram stretch of 53 km and its seven stations are entirely within Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district .
A total of 696 km of Odisha railway routes will remain under the Rayagada Division of East Coast Railway .
The South Coast Railway Zone , headquartered in Visakhapatnam , is set to come into effect from 1 June 2026 .
BJD , Congress , Left parties, and other opposition groups in Odisha have demanded an immediate rollback of the decision.
Indian Railways on Wednesday, 6 May 2025, issued a fresh clarification asserting that the formation of the new South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone will not result in any territorial loss for Odisha, dismissing circulating reports to the contrary as "misleading and motivated." The statement comes amid growing protests from opposition parties in the state demanding a rollback of the decision.
What the Railways Said
In an official statement, Railway authorities said the clarification was necessitated by widely circulated claims that Odisha stood to lose significant territory due to the creation of the new zone. The Railways described such claims as "factually incorrect" and alleged they were being propagated by "persons and groups with vested interests."
According to the official position, the Visakhapatnam Division of the newly formed South Coast Railway includes a 53-km stretch from Palasa to Ichchapuram, comprising seven stations — Palasa, Sumadevi, Mandasa Road, Baruva, Sompeta, Jhadupudi and Ichchapuram — all of which are located within Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district. The Railways said this definitively establishes that no part of Odisha is being transferred to Andhra Pradesh.
Odisha Routes Staying Under East Coast Railway
Addressing concerns about key railway corridors, the Railways confirmed that a total of 696 km of railway routes — including the Koraput-Singapur Road, Kothavalasa-Kirandul, Kuneru-Therubali and Gunupur-Paralakhemundi sections — will continue to remain under the newly formed Rayagada Division of the East Coast Railway (ECoR). The Railways reiterated that under no circumstances was any part of Odisha being brought under the administrative jurisdiction of Andhra Pradesh.
Background: The New South Coast Railway Zone
The Centre recently issued a gazette notification establishing the South Coast Railway Zone with its headquarters in Visakhapatnam, effective 1 June 2026. The new zone will incorporate divisions including Guntakal, Guntur, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, following a reorganisation of the South Central Railway (SCR) and East Coast Railway (ECoR). The move fulfils a long-pending demand of Andhra Pradesh.
Opposition Protests in Odisha
Despite the Railways' assurances, the announcement has triggered significant political opposition in Odisha. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Indian National Congress (Congress), Left parties, and several other opposition groups have demanded an immediate rollback of the decision to transfer the Palasa-Ichchapuram section to the South Coast Railway. Critics argue that the reorganisation sets a precedent that could affect Odisha's administrative and economic interests in border regions. This is not the first time a railway zone reorganisation has sparked inter-state political friction — similar concerns arose during the creation of the East Coast Railway zone in 2019.
Railways Urges Public Caution
The Railways urged the public not to be misled by what it described as "baseless and motivated misinformation," appealing for calm amid the ongoing political controversy. As the 1 June 2026 implementation date approaches, all eyes will be on whether the Centre engages directly with Odisha's political leadership to resolve the dispute before the new zone formally comes into effect.
Point of View
Not Odisha. But the political optics are more complicated. The fact that multiple opposition parties, including the BJD which governed Odisha for over two decades, have united in protest signals that the concern is less about the map and more about the precedent. Railway zone boundaries shape administrative patronage, jobs, and project allocations — and Odisha has historically felt shortchanged in infrastructure investment relative to its neighbours. The Centre would do well to engage directly with Odisha's leadership rather than rely solely on press clarifications, which rarely douse political fires of this kind.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Odisha lose any territory due to the South Coast Railway zone?
No, according to Indian Railways. The Railway authorities have clarified that the Palasa-Ichchapuram stretch included in the South Coast Railway's Visakhapatnam Division lies entirely within Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district, and no part of Odisha is being transferred to Andhra Pradesh.
What is the South Coast Railway zone and when does it come into effect?
The South Coast Railway (SCoR) is a newly created railway zone with its headquarters in Visakhapatnam, established via a Central government gazette notification. It is set to come into effect from 1 June 2026, following a reorganisation of the South Central Railway and East Coast Railway zones.
Which Odisha railway sections will remain under East Coast Railway?
A total of 696 km of railway routes including the Koraput-Singapur Road, Kothavalasa-Kirandul, Kuneru-Therubali, and Gunupur-Paralakhemundi sections will continue under the Rayagada Division of the East Coast Railway, according to the Railways' official statement.
Why are opposition parties in Odisha protesting the South Coast Railway decision?
The BJD, Congress, Left parties, and other opposition groups have demanded an immediate rollback of the decision to include the Palasa-Ichchapuram section in the South Coast Railway. They argue the move could affect Odisha's administrative and economic interests in border regions, despite Railways' assurances to the contrary.
What divisions will the new South Coast Railway zone include?
The South Coast Railway zone will include the Guntakal, Guntur, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam divisions, carved out of the existing South Central Railway and East Coast Railway zones, fulfilling a long-pending demand of Andhra Pradesh.
