Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways has clarified concerns over the inclusion of certain stations in the newly created South Coast Railway Zone (SCoR), stating that the move will not affect the revenue or operations of the East Coast Railway (ECoR).
Headquartered in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, the South Coast Railway Zone was recently formed to improve administrative efficiency and streamline passenger services. Questions had been raised regarding the transfer of stations located near the border with Odisha.
Railway officials clarified that the Palasa–Ichchapuram section, covering nearly 50 km, includes seven stations — Palasa, Summadevi, Mandasa Road, Baruva, Sompeta, Jhadupudi and Ichchapuram — all of which are located in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. None of these stations falls within Odisha’s territorial limits, the ministry said.
Officials further noted that these stations are small to mid-sized facilities primarily handling passenger traffic, and none serves as a major freight loading point. As a result, the revenue of East Coast Railway will remain unaffected.
The ministry also emphasised that freight trains passing through the section will continue operating normally, as railway freight movement is not restricted by zonal jurisdiction. Operations across railway zones remain seamless, ensuring uninterrupted movement of goods and passengers.
Authorities assured that there will be no disruption to train services due to the administrative change. Existing passenger services such as the Palasa–Bhubaneswar passenger train, Palasa–Cuttack passenger train and Ichchapuram–Cuttack MEMU will continue to run without any alteration in schedule, route or frequency.
Railway officials described the move as a technical revision aimed at improving operational efficiency in the Visakhapatnam railway division.
The modalities of the transfer, including staff deployment, are currently being finalised between East Coast Railway and South Coast Railway. The ministry said the service conditions and interests of railway employees will be fully protected in accordance with established norms.
The government also reiterated its commitment to strengthening railway infrastructure in Odisha, citing record capital expenditure on rail expansion, station modernisation, introduction of Vande Bharat Express services, and the creation of the Rayagada Railway Division under East Coast Railway as evidence of continued support.
