South Coast Railway Ops will officially begin on 1 June 2026 with its headquarters in Visakhapatnam. The Ministry of Railways issued a gazette notification on 4 May 2026 for the formation of the new railway zone. South Coast Railway (SCoR) has now become the 18th railway zone of Indian Railways.

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Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the operational date in April 2026. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the zonal headquarters in Visakhapatnam in January 2025.

South Coast Railway Ops and New Railway Structure

The new South Coast Railway zone includes the Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada divisions from South Central Railway. A new Visakhapatnam division has also been created under the new zone.

The old Waltair division was divided into two parts for better railway administration. Around 696 km of railway track became part of the Rayagada division under East Coast Railway. The remaining 463 km section became the Visakhapatnam division under South Coast Railway.

This restructuring is expected to improve railway operations and administration in Andhra Pradesh.

South Coast Railway Ops Linked to AP Reorganisation Act

The creation of South Coast Railway is connected to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The Act included provisions related to railway development and administrative changes for Andhra Pradesh after the state bifurcation.

The demand for a separate railway zone had been raised for many years. The launch of South Coast Railway is seen as an important step for railway growth in the region.

Changes in Railway Network and Stations

As part of the new arrangement, seven stations in the Palasa–Ichchapuram section were shifted from the Khurda Division of East Coast Railway to the new Visakhapatnam division.

South Coast Railway will now manage railway administration in several parts of Andhra Pradesh and nearby operational corridors. Railway zones are important administrative units that control train operations, passenger services, maintenance work, and railway infrastructure.

South Coast Railway Ops Expands Indian Railways

With the formation of South Coast Railway, Indian Railways now has 18 railway zones. Each railway zone is headed by a General Manager and divided into smaller divisions for smooth functioning.

The new zone is expected to strengthen railway connectivity, improve passenger services, and support future railway projects in Andhra Pradesh.