Government to Issue Gazette Notification for South Coast Railway Zone on June 1

Official Announcement Regarding SCoR Zone

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has confirmed that the formal gazette notification for the establishment of the South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone will be issued on June 1. This announcement provides a definitive timeline for the creation of the 18th railway zone in India, a project that has been under development to streamline railway operations in the region.

Headquarters and Operational Scope

The new railway zone will be headquartered in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The creation of this zone involves the reorganization of existing railway infrastructure to better serve the logistical and passenger needs of the area. Key aspects of the new zone include:

• The inclusion of the Waltair, Vijayawada, and Guntakal divisions.
• Improved administrative oversight for railway operations across the state.
• Enhanced focus on infrastructure development and project execution within the zone's jurisdiction.

Strategic Importance

The establishment of the South Coast Railway zone is intended to improve the efficiency of the Indian Railways network by reducing the administrative burden on existing zones and allowing for more localized management. The Minister emphasized that the government is committed to completing the necessary procedural steps to ensure the zone becomes fully functional. As noted by officials, the move is expected to 'boost regional development and improve the overall passenger experience' through better resource allocation and faster decision-making processes.

Next Steps

Following the release of the gazette notification on June 1, the railway administration will proceed with the necessary staffing, infrastructure setup, and operational transitions required to make the South Coast Railway zone a fully independent entity. Stakeholders and regional authorities are closely monitoring the timeline as the project moves toward its final implementation phase.