Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has praised the launch of the South Coastal Railway Zone as a significant achievement, stating that it fulfills a long-standing dream of the people. The new railway zone, centered in Visakhapatnam and commencing operations on June 1, is described as a historic milestone by Naidu. He emphasized that this development will bring about a comprehensive transformation in the transportation sector of North Andhra, creating new job opportunities and fostering industrial growth.
Naidu expressed gratitude on behalf of the citizens to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for realizing the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh. The establishment of the South Coast Railway Zone, with its headquarters in Visakhapatnam, was officially announced through a gazette notification issued by the Centre earlier this month. Effective from June 1, 2026, the new railway zone will encompass divisions such as Guntakal, Guntur, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam.
The Ministry of Railways has integrated certain areas from the South Central Railway and East Coast Railway into the newly formed South Coast Railway Zone. Existing divisions like Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada from the South Central Railway have been reorganized and included in the new zone. Additionally, the Waltair division of the East Coast Railway has been renamed as Visakhapatnam division and restructured to be part of the new zone.
The inception of the South Coast Railway Zone in Andhra Pradesh was a promise made during the state’s bifurcation in 2014. The decision to establish the railway zone with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters was initially declared by the Centre in 2019. However, the administrative groundwork for the new zone gained momentum after the N Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA government took office in the state in 2024. In January 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the construction of the South Coast Railway zonal headquarters in Visakhapatnam.
