Visakhapatnam is poised to become the operational hub for the newly established South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone, with its temporary zonal office set to open around Dussehra. Official sources confirm that the General Manager’s office, along with key departmental heads, will be housed in the visitor-ready sixth and seventh floors of the ‘The Deck’ building adjacent to the VMRDA complex.
Spanning 41,500 square feet, the interim office setup is expected to accommodate the GM, 15 heads of department, 30 additional officers, and approximately 700 support staff. An official visit by the newly appointed GM reviewed the premises, with tenders for interior works to be rolled out shortly. While spatial readiness is confirmed, authorities are yet to finalise employee adjustment and transfer logistics. The formation of SCoR follows approval of its revised Detailed Project Report by the Railway Board and Union Cabinet. The Vizag-based zone will evolve from a restructured Waltair Division, now renamed Visakha Division, and will incorporate segments of the former East Coast and South Central Railway territories. No formal gazette notification has been issued yet.
The reorganisation sees the Visakha Division inheriting approximately 410 km of routes from Waltair, while the remaining 680 km will be subsumed under a new Rayagada Division. Despite public calls to retain revenue-heavy lines such as Araku and Koraput within Visakha, authorities transferred them to Rayagada under East Coast Railway. Known as one of India’s most profitable freight divisions, Waltair contributed nearly ₹8,000 crore out of East Coast Railway’s ₹15,000 crore earnings prior to zonal bifurcation. SCoR’s strategic advantage includes access to the region’s largest electric loco shed and a sprawling marshalling yard—assets that are now part of the Visakha Division.
Rail experts highlight several challenges ahead: staffing, integration of territorial assets, and ensuring coordination among divisions for smooth freight and passenger operations. Current DPR guidelines prohibit creation of new gazetted posts besides the GM role, with transfers of essential assets and staff from South Central Railway approved, though specialised equipment such as track machines remains under review. Public statements by regional parliamentary representatives underscore political and social resonance of the zone. The MP has indicated that Dussehra operationalisation will symbolise government intent to fast-track regional infrastructure and create opportunities for local employment and balanced development.
As preparations proceed, key next steps include finalising the lease agreement between SCoR and VMRDA, interior fit-outs, staff allocation, and a gazette notification. Meanwhile, construction of the permanent headquarters at Mudasarlova continues on schedule. In sum, Visakhapatnam is transitioning into a strategic rail zone centre, with immediate operations based from ‘The Deck’ and long-term infrastructure rolling out in its permanent headquarters. The evolution aims to bolster operational efficiency, regional connectivity, and sustainable urban rail growth.
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