TNI Bureau: In a significant decision, the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India has announced a major restructuring of the country’s railway network. A new railway zone, South Coast Railway, will be created with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam, effective from June 1, 2026. A gazette notification has already been issued in this regard.

Under the new arrangement, parts of the East Coast Railway and South Central Railway will be merged to form the new zone. Additionally, a new railway division will be established at Rayagada under East Coast Railway, which is being seen as a major gain for Odisha.

The existing Waltair division will be bifurcated into two parts. One part will be merged into the new Rayagada division, while the other will form the Visakhapatnam division under South Coast Railway. The move is expected to improve operational efficiency and administrative convenience.

The new Rayagada division will cover around 696 route kilometres, including key routes such as Koraput–Singapur Road, Kotavalasa–Kirandul, and Gunupur–Paralakhemundi. This is expected to significantly strengthen rail connectivity in southern Odisha.

There will also be changes between the Khurda Road division and Visakhapatnam division. Notably, the 53-km Palasa–Ichchapuram section will be transferred from Khurda Road to Visakhapatnam division, improving coordination between the two.

Further adjustments in jurisdiction and boundaries across divisions have also been made to ensure smoother and more efficient railway operations.