South Coast Railway Zone gazette notified: Visakhapatnam HQ, operational June 1
Synopsis
After over a decade of demands, the Centre has formally notified the South Coast Railway Zone with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam, effective 1 June 2026. The new zone consolidates Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada divisions and renames Waltair as Visakhapatnam division — a structural shift that Andhra Pradesh's ruling coalition is claiming as a landmark win.
Key Takeaways
The Centre has officially notified the South Coast Railway Zone with headquarters at Visakhapatnam , effective 1 June 2026 .
The zone covers the Guntakal , Guntur , and Vijayawada divisions, plus the renamed Visakhapatnam division (formerly Waltair).
A new Rayagada division has been created under East Coast Railway for enhanced operational efficiency.
Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and TDP state president Palla Srinivasa Rao credited PM Modi , Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw , and CM Chandrababu Naidu for the milestone.
The demand originated from the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 ; the zone was first announced in 2019 but stalled for five years over land acquisition disputes.
The Centre has officially notified the constitution of the South Coast Railway Zone, with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam, effective from 1 June 2026 — a move that Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday described as a "transformative step" for the state's growth and connectivity. The gazette notification, published in the Gazette of India, marks the formal realisation of a demand that has been central to Andhra Pradesh's political discourse for over a decade.
What the New Zone Covers
According to the gazette notification, the South Coast Railway Zone will bring together the Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada divisions — previously under South Central Railway — along with the restructured Waltair division, now renamed the Visakhapatnam division. Separately, a new Rayagada division has been carved out under East Coast Railway to enhance operational efficiency in the region. The new zone becomes fully operational on 1 June 2026.
Pawan Kalyan and TDP Leaders Respond
Pawan Kalyan, the Jana Sena leader and Deputy Chief Minister, posted on X: "New Zone, New Speed, New Growth! A transformative step for Andhra Pradesh's growth and connectivity." He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the decision, and credited Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for his "consistent efforts" in securing the zone for the state.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) state president Palla Srinivasa Rao called the gazette notification a "historic milestone for North Andhra," describing it as the "culmination of a decades-long struggle" and the fulfilment of the collective aspirations of the region's people. He attributed the breakthrough to what he termed the "unrelenting pursuit and strategic foresight" of Chief Minister Naidu.
A Decade of Demands and Delays
The demand for a dedicated railway zone for Andhra Pradesh has its roots in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014, which bifurcated the state. TDP parliamentarians had raised the "Visakha Railway Zone is Andhra's Right" slogan between 2014 and 2019. The zone was initially announced in 2019, but Srinivasa Rao alleged the project stalled during the 2019–2024 period due to what he characterised as the "lackadaisical attitude" and "administrative inertia" of the previous state government, particularly on land acquisition.
He stated that following the NDA coalition's return to power in 2024, the process was placed on a "war footing." According to Srinivasa Rao, Chief Minister Naidu's direct intervention with Prime Minister Modi and the Railway Ministry resolved long-standing bureaucratic bottlenecks and expedited land acquisition, enabling the Centre to allocate funds and clear administrative hurdles.
What This Means for Andhra Pradesh
The creation of the South Coast Railway Zone is expected to significantly strengthen Andhra Pradesh's railway infrastructure by bringing key divisions under unified regional administration. Proponents argue the move will accelerate regional development, improve freight and passenger connectivity, and generate new economic opportunities — particularly for North Andhra and the Visakhapatnam corridor. With the zone set to become operational in under two months, the focus now shifts to administrative readiness and staffing of the new headquarters.
Point of View
But the real test lies ahead. Creating a new railway zone is an administrative act; making it operationally meaningful requires sustained capital allocation, staffing, and project execution. The zone was announced as far back as 2019 — the six-year gap between announcement and notification is itself a cautionary tale about the distance between political commitments and delivery. Whether the South Coast Railway Zone accelerates infrastructure outcomes or becomes another headline that outruns implementation will depend on how quickly Visakhapatnam headquarters is staffed and how soon pending rail projects in the region receive fresh momentum.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the South Coast Railway Zone?
The South Coast Railway Zone is a newly constituted Indian Railways zone with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam, formally notified in the Gazette of India and set to become operational from 1 June 2026. It consolidates the Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada divisions along with the renamed Visakhapatnam division (formerly Waltair division).
When will the South Coast Railway Zone become operational?
The South Coast Railway Zone will become fully operational from 1 June 2026, as mandated by the gazette notification issued by the Centre.
Why was a new railway zone created for Andhra Pradesh?
The demand for a dedicated railway zone stems from the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014, which bifurcated the state. Proponents argued that a separate zone was necessary to ensure equitable railway development and administrative focus for the residual state of Andhra Pradesh.
What divisions fall under the new South Coast Railway Zone?
The new zone covers the Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada divisions — previously under South Central Railway — and the Visakhapatnam division, renamed from the restructured Waltair division. A new Rayagada division has also been created under East Coast Railway.
Why was the railway zone delayed after its 2019 announcement?
According to TDP state president Palla Srinivasa Rao, the zone stalled between 2019 and 2024 due to what he described as the 'lackadaisical attitude' and 'administrative inertia' of the previous state government, particularly over unresolved land acquisition issues. The process reportedly accelerated after the NDA coalition assumed power in 2024.
