The Union Government has officially notified the creation of the South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam. The new railway zone will become operational from June 1, 2026, under the provisions of the Railways Act, 1989.
The South Coast Railway Zone has been formed through the reorganization of the existing East Coast Railway and South Central Railway zones. It will include the Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada divisions that were earlier part of South Central Railway. A reorganized portion of the Waltair division will function as the new Visakhapatnam division under the SCoR zone.
As part of the restructuring, the Centre has also approved the creation of the Rayagada division under the East Coast Railway. The existing Waltair division will be bifurcated, with one part merging into the Rayagada division and the other becoming part of the South Coast Railway Zone.
The creation of the new railway zone is expected to improve railway administration, operational efficiency, passenger services, and freight movement across Andhra Pradesh and nearby regions. It is also likely to strengthen industrial growth and port connectivity around Visakhapatnam, one of India’s major port cities.
The South Coast Railway Zone fulfills a long-standing demand of Andhra Pradesh and marks a significant step toward enhancing regional railway infrastructure and connectivity.
