South Coastal Railway Zone: Vaishnaw, Naidu review ops ahead of June 1 notification
Synopsis
A decade-old promise made at the time of Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation is finally nearing fulfilment — Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the South Coastal Railway Zone will be gazette-notified on 1 June 2026, as he and CM Chandrababu Naidu reviewed its operations in Visakhapatnam. The zone's operationalisation could reshape logistics and regional development across the state.
Key Takeaways
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and AP CM N.
Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the South Coastal Railway Zone in Visakhapatnam on 28 April 2025 .
The zone is set to be formally gazette-notified on 1 June 2026 , as confirmed by Vaishnaw.
Naidu requested integration of the Araku–Kothavalasa and Kurnool–Dhone sections into the new zone for regional development.
The interim office of the zone is currently housed at the VMRDA premises in Visakhapatnam.
The promise of a new railway zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters was originally made during AP's bifurcation in 2014 by the UPA government.
PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Zonal Headquarters in January 2025 .
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday, 28 April 2025, jointly reviewed the operations of the South Coastal Railway Zone in Visakhapatnam, ahead of its formal gazette notification scheduled for 1 June 2026. The two leaders also assessed the progress of ongoing railway infrastructure projects across Andhra Pradesh.
Review Meeting at VMRDA Office
The review was conducted at the South Coastal Railway Zone's interim office, temporarily housed at the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) premises. Senior officials from the South Central, East, and South Coastal Railway Zones, along with local public representatives, attended the meeting. A detailed presentation covering the new zone's structure and various railway projects across Andhra Pradesh was made to the ministers, according to an official release.
Chandrababu Naidu's Key Requests
Chief Minister Naidu formally requested Railway Minister Vaishnaw to issue a gazette notification ensuring that the South Coastal Railway Zone commences operations on 1 June 2026. He also appealed for administrative changes, specifically seeking the integration of additional sections — the Araku–Kothavalasa and Kurnool–Dhone sections — into the newly established zone. Naidu argued that both sections fall within the geographical limits of Andhra Pradesh and that their inclusion would catalyse development in those regions.
The Chief Minister further flagged that inadequate rail route density is hampering Andhra Pradesh's ambition to emerge as a major logistics hub. He also requested improved rail connectivity between the state's ports and the hinterlands of neighbouring states.
Vaishnaw Reaffirms June 1 Notification
Earlier in the day, while addressing the gathering at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Google Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam, Minister Vaishnaw reaffirmed that the South Coastal Railway Zone will be formally notified on 1 June 2026. He described the development as a significant step toward strengthening railway administration in Andhra Pradesh, adding that the Centre has delivered on a long-pending promise made to the state.
A Promise Dating Back to 2014
The commitment to a new railway zone with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters was originally made at the time of Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation in 2014 by the then Congress-led UPA government. The promise, however, remained unfulfilled for over a decade. In January 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the construction of the South Coastal Railway Zonal Headquarters in Visakhapatnam, marking a concrete step toward realising the commitment.
What Comes Next
With the gazette notification expected on 1 June 2026, the South Coastal Railway Zone is poised to become one of India's newest railway administrative divisions. The formal operationalisation is expected to accelerate project approvals, improve regional connectivity, and support Andhra Pradesh's broader infrastructure and logistics goals. Industry observers and local stakeholders will closely watch whether the Araku–Kothavalasa and Kurnool–Dhone sections are ultimately merged into the new zone.
Point of View
However, is whether the new zone gets the administrative heft it needs: Naidu's push to include the Araku–Kothavalasa and Kurnool–Dhone sections is not merely symbolic — without adequate route coverage, the zone risks being a headquarters in name only. Andhra Pradesh's logistics hub aspirations are real and geographically justified, but rail route density remains a structural bottleneck that a new zone alone cannot fix without commensurate investment in new lines and port connectivity.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the South Coastal Railway Zone and where is it headquartered?
The South Coastal Railway Zone is a newly established Indian Railways administrative division with its headquarters in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is set to be formally gazette-notified on 1 June 2026, fulfilling a commitment made at the time of Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation in 2014.
When will the South Coastal Railway Zone be officially notified?
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the South Coastal Railway Zone will be officially gazette-notified on 1 June 2026. The announcement was made during his visit to Visakhapatnam on 28 April 2025.
What sections did CM Chandrababu Naidu request to be added to the new zone?
Chief Minister Naidu requested the integration of the Araku–Kothavalasa and Kurnool–Dhone sections into the South Coastal Railway Zone. He argued that both sections lie within Andhra Pradesh's geographical limits and their inclusion would support regional development.
Why has a new railway zone been created for Andhra Pradesh?
The new zone was promised at the time of Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation in 2014 by the Congress-led UPA government, as part of commitments made to the residual state. The promise remained unfulfilled for over a decade before PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Zonal Headquarters in January 2025.
How does the South Coastal Railway Zone affect Andhra Pradesh's development?
The new zone is expected to improve regional railway administration, accelerate project approvals, and support Andhra Pradesh's ambition to become a major logistics hub. Better port-hinterland rail connectivity is also a key demand that the zone's operationalisation is expected to address.
