New Chapter for Indian Railways
The South Coast Railway zone, India’s 18th railway zone, has officially commenced operations, marking a significant leap forward in the region’s railway infrastructure. Headed by General Manager Sandeep Mathur, the zone is headquartered in Visakhapatnam and was established following a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Railways.
Key Appointments and Infrastructure
The new zone has a robust administrative setup in place, with key appointments including Y. Balaji Kiran as the Chief PRO. Mr. Mathur has been focusing on overseeing critical infrastructure projects, including capacity augmentation and track development, particularly in the Visakhapatnam area. The SCoR zone comprises four divisions: Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntakal, and Guntur, covering a vast rail network across Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The zone’s principal officers include Vineet Kumar, T. K. Sinha, B. S. K. Raj Kumar, P. Hariprasad, L. V. S. S. Patrudu, D. Satyanarayana, and B. Chandra Sekhar, who will play crucial roles in managing the zone’s operations. The temporary headquarters, currently operating from the VMRDA iconic building, will eventually move to its permanent location at Mudasarlova, for which the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 8, 2025.
Operations and Impact
The South Coast Railway zone is designed to manage approximately 17,000 employees and handle substantial freight and passenger traffic. With its operationalization, the region can expect improved railway services, enhanced connectivity, and increased economic growth. The zone’s commencement marks a new era for the Indian Railways, and its impact will be closely watched in the coming months.
- The South Coast Railway zone is India’s 18th railway zone.
- The zone is headquartered in Visakhapatnam.
- The zone comprises four divisions: Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntakal, and Guntur.
- The zone will manage approximately 17,000 employees and handle substantial freight and passenger traffic.
Source: Original Article


