Pawan Kalyan Welcomes South Coast Railway Zone as Major Growth Driver for Andhra

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday welcomed the Centre’s gazette notification announcing the creation of the South Coast Railway Zone, calling it a “transformative step” for the state’s development and connectivity. The new railway zone, headquartered in Visakhapatnam, is set to become operational from June 1, 2026.

In a post on social media platform X, Pawan Kalyan described the move as “New Zone, New Speed, New Growth,” and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving the long-pending proposal. He said the decision marks a significant milestone in strengthening Andhra Pradesh’s railway infrastructure and boosting regional connectivity.

According to the notification, the South Coast Railway Zone will include the Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada divisions from the South Central Railway, along with the reorganised Waltair division, which will now be known as the Visakhapatnam division. Additionally, a new Rayagada division under the East Coast Railway has been created as part of the restructuring to improve operational efficiency across the network.

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Pawan Kalyan said the formation of the zone will accelerate economic development, improve passenger and freight connectivity, and generate new employment and investment opportunities in the state. He also thanked Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for his efforts in pursuing the project, stating that sustained coordination with the Centre helped bring the long-awaited decision to fruition.

The railway restructuring has been widely described as a major administrative and infrastructural upgrade for Andhra Pradesh, particularly for North Coastal and Central regions. Political leaders noted that the demand for a separate railway zone had been pending for years, with earlier proposals facing delays due to land acquisition and administrative hurdles.

With the Gazette notification now issued, officials confirmed that the South Coast Railway Zone will become fully operational from June 1, 2026. Leaders from the ruling alliance termed the development a historic achievement, stating that it fulfills long-standing demands under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation framework and is expected to significantly enhance the state’s transport and logistics capacity.

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