The formation of the South Coast Railway zone is a significant development resulting from a larger reorganization process initiated in 2025. This reorganization fulfills a demand made by Andhra Pradesh for over forty years and complies with statutory obligations under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
Visakhapatnam’s railway network has a rich history dating back to 1893 with the commencement of broad-gauge operations under the East Coast Railways. Key milestones include the inauguration of the Parlakhemundi Light Railways in 1901 and the Waltair Division’s integration into the Bengal Nagpur Railway by 1931. Industrial growth accelerated following the opening of the Kottavalasa-Kirandul line in 1968, which began passenger services in 1978.
Technological upgrades continued over the decades, including the introduction of electric traction in 1982 and the commissioning of the Koraput-Rayagada line in 1996. By 2011, the Naupada-Gunupur line conversion to broad gauge standardized the division’s rail gauge system. Modern passenger transport improved further with the launch of the first Vande Bharat Express from Visakhapatnam in 2023.
The year 2025 marked a crucial turning point when the Waltair Division was split to enhance administrative efficiency. The southern portion became the Visakhapatnam Railway Division, while northern sections merged with the newly created Rayagada Division. The SCoR was first announced by the Centre in February 2019, followed by the Andhra Pradesh government’s allocation of 52.2 acres at Mudasarlova in August 2024 for the zonal headquarters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone in January 2025, and the Union Cabinet approved the detailed project report in February 2025.
This restructuring supports better regional connectivity, exemplified in 2025 by the East Coast Railway’s launch of the Amrit Bharat train connecting Brahmapur and Udhna via Vizianagaram and Rayagada. The South Coast Railway zone now comprises four divisions: Guntakal, Guntur, Vijayawada, and the 410-km Visakhapatnam Division.
The new zonal headquarters, valued at ₹184 crore, is under construction at Mudasarlova. In the fiscal year 2025-26, the South Coast Railway transported 286 million tonnes of freight, accounting for 17% of the total railway loading in India. The Visakhapatnam Railway Division will continue to manage freight and passenger operations in the region under the SCoR zone.
