Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu conducted a high-level review of the South Coastal Railway (SCoR) zone’s operations in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. The duo visited the temporary zonal office located at the VMRDA building, where they assessed the progress of various railway projects across the state. Minister Vaishnaw officially confirmed that the SCoR zone will be notified on June 1, 2026, marking the fulfillment of a decade-long promise made during the state’s bifurcation in 2014.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Naidu urged the Railway Minister to issue the official Gazette notification promptly to ensure operations begin as scheduled. He also proposed significant administrative adjustments, specifically requesting the integration of the Araku–Kothavalasa and Kurnool–Dhone sections into the new zone. Naidu emphasized that including these regions, which fall entirely within Andhra Pradesh’s borders, is essential for localized regional development and better administrative efficiency.
Addressing the state’s broader economic goals, the Chief Minister pointed out that Andhra Pradesh’s current rail route density is insufficient for its goal of becoming a global logistics hub. He requested the Union Minister to prioritize rail connectivity between the state’s numerous ports and the hinterlands of neighboring states to boost trade. Minister Vaishnaw reiterated the Centre’s commitment to the region, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already laid the foundation stone for the zonal headquarters earlier in January 2025.
