Visakhapatnam railway zone dream realised, operations to begin from June 1, says MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

GUNTUR: TDP floor leader and Narasaraopet MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu on Tuesday expressed happiness over the Centre issuing the gazette notification for the long-pending railway zone for north Andhra, calling it a “historic step” for the state’s development.Addressing the media, the MP said the new South Coast Railway zone, with headquarters at Visakhapatnam, will commence operations from June 1, 2026. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for taking the decision, and credited Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for pursuing the issue consistently.“The formation of the new zone will accelerate railway infrastructure development, improve connectivity and create employment opportunities for local youth. It will also give a major boost to trade and economic activity,” he said.The MP said the new zone will include the Vijayawada, Guntur, Guntakal and reorganised Visakhapatnam divisions. As part of the restructuring, the existing Waltair division has been bifurcated. A 696-km stretch has been carved out to form a new division headquartered at Rayagada under the East Coast Railway, while the remaining 463-km stretch will function as the Visakhapatnam division under SCoR.He added that certain route jurisdictions have also been rationalised for operational efficiency and passenger convenience. The Palasa–Ichchapuram section will now fall under the Visakhapatnam division, while the Kondapalli–Motumari route has been brought under the Vijayawada division.Reiterating that the railway zone was a long-cherished demand of the people of north Andhra, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu said its realisation would mark a new phase in regional development and connectivity.