During Andhra Pradesh's division, the Centre promised a new railway zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters in the 2014 Reorganisation Act. It became a key election issue, and in 2019, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced the South Coast Railway Zone, now a reality
Published Jan 08, 2025 | 6:11 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 08, 2025 | 6:11 PM
Narendra Modi to re-launch construction of Andhra Pradesh's futuristic capital(Screengrab)
Andhra Pradesh’s long-awaited dream of a separate railway zone with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters was realized on Wednesday, 8 January, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for its administrative buildings.
The administrative buildings will come up at Mudasarlova, Visakhapatnam. The plan includes constructing a 11-storey building in an area of 50 acres at an estimated cost of ₹149.16 crore. The tendering process for the project was completed by 27 December, 2024.
The new railway zone, named South Coast Railway, is the result of a long drawn out agitation of the people, mainly of Visakhapatnam.
Though the central government announced the zone in February 2019, the Detailed Project Report (DPR), outlining the zone’s comprehensive structure, was prepared the same year. The zone will comprise Vijayawada, Guntur, and Guntakal divisions of South Central Railway and the Waltair division of the East Coast Railway.
The announcement of the South Coast Railway Zone and the foundation stone laying for administrative buildings by Prime Minister Modi are seen as significant milestones in the struggle for its creation.
In 2003, when the Congress government established new zones, immediate steps were taken to make them operational. A member of parliament from Andhra Pradesh opined that the NDA government should follow suit to ensure the ‘South Coast Railway Zone’ becomes functional quickly, thereby fulfilling its purpose.
Normally, it takes time for a new railway zone to come into being. The growth of industrial development within the zone plays a crucial role in its progress. In this context, the ‘South Coast Railway Zone’ has promising prospects. Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and Krishnapatnam ports in Andhra Pradesh already handle significant cargo traffic. Minerals like laterite are transported in large quantities by rail from the vicinity of Visakhapatnam. The region also has excellent connectivity with national highways.
The zone covers quite a number of economic hubs. The upcoming projects like the ArcelorMittal-Nippon Steel Corporation in Anakapalli district and a pharma hub are expected to contribute significantly to the railway’s revenue, ensuring the zone’s financial stability.
When the South Central Railway Zone was formed, most Telugu-speaking regions transitioned from the Southern Railway Zone, headquartered in Chennai. However, the Waltair division, part of the South Eastern Railway Zone based in Kolkata, faced long-term neglect. Despite repeated representations, issues such as limited job opportunities, delays in introducing new trains, and overcrowded trains without additional coaches persisted.
In 1997, Prime Minister Deve Gowda laid the foundation for the East Coast Railway Zone, headquartered in Bhubaneswar, with the Waltair division included in 2003. However, complaints of mistreatment towards people from Andhra Pradesh, particularly during recruitment exams in Odisha, along with continued discrimination against passengers and employees, fueled the demand for a separate railway zone with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters.
At the time of the division of Andhra Pradesh, the centre had made a promise for a new railway zone with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014. It became a key election issue in the 2019 and 2024 general elections. On 27 February, 2019, before the general elections, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal officially announced the creation of the ‘South Coast Railway Zone’ with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters. It has now become a reality.
The Prime Minister, on his first visit to Andhra Pradesh since the TDP-led NDA formed the state government, is also holding a roadshow and addressing a public meeting. During the event, he will virtually launch several key projects focused on sustainable growth and infrastructure development, particularly in North Andhra Pradesh. He is accompanied by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
