Covering a rail network of 3,532 km, the zone’s total track length will extend to 6,454 km when additional lines such as double and triple tracks are included. The administrative jurisdiction of SCoR includes four divisions: Visakhapatnam (created after reorganisation of the Waltair division), Vijayawada, Guntur, and Guntakal, comprising a total of 385 stations.
Approximately 62,000 employees will serve across these divisions. The zone’s headquarters will have 128 gazetted officers and 1,100 non-gazetted staff. The new zone is expected to handle an annual freight volume of about 100 million tonnes, with combined passenger and freight revenue projected around ₹15,500 crore yearly.
Highlighting its capabilities, the Vadlapudi railway wagon depot within the zone can inspect and repair between 250 and 300 wagons daily.
The Union government announced the establishment of the South Coast Railway zone in Visakhapatnam on February 17, 2019. This was approved by the Union Cabinet on January 8, 2025, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the zone’s permanent headquarters at Mudasarlova, estimated to cost ₹183 crore.
The new 12-storey headquarters will be built on a 52.2-acre site and designed in the shape of a cruise ship to reflect Visakhapatnam’s coastal identity. Until the permanent building is completed, the zone will operate temporarily from the iconic VMRDA building, The Deck.
The SCoR zone spans across Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The launch is expected to strengthen railway infrastructure in the region, introduce new trains, develop stations and platforms, and boost economic growth, trade, and employment opportunities.
