Indian Railways 18th Zone: South Coast Railway to start operations from June 1 2026
Indian Railways has announced the formation of the 18th railway zone called South Coast Railway (SCoR). The headquarters of this new zone will be located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It will officially start its operations from June 1, 2026, to improve rail connectivity and management in the region.
What are the key details of South Coast Railway (SCoR)?
The South Coast Railway will primarily cover Andhra Pradesh, with some parts extending into Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the headquarters in January 2025. The Andhra Pradesh government provided 52.2 acres of land for the headquarters in August 2024. The official gazette notification for this zone was issued on May 4, 2026, under the Railway Act, 1989.
Which divisions and regions are included in this zone?
The SCoR zone is created by combining parts of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) and South Central Railway (SCR). It focuses on better freight movement and operational efficiency.
| Division Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Vijayawada | Included Division |
| Guntur | Included Division |
| Guntakal | Included Division |
| Visakhapatnam | New Division (from former Waltair division) |
What is the budget and impact on Andhra Pradesh?
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that Andhra Pradesh received a record budgetary allocation of 10,134 crore rupees. Currently, railway projects worth 1.06 lakh crore rupees are underway in the state. Additionally, Andhra Pradesh has achieved 100% railway electrification, which will support the new zone’s operations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
South Coast Railway (SCoR) कब से काम करना शुरू करेगा?
साउथ कोस्ट रेलवे आधिकारिक तौर पर 1 जून 2026 से अपना परिचालन शुरू कर देगा।
इस नए रेलवे ज़ोन का मुख्यालय कहाँ स्थित है?
SCoR का मुख्यालय विशाखापट्टनम, आंध्र प्रदेश में स्थित है, जिसके लिए राज्य सरकार ने 52.2 एकड़ भूमि दी है।