South Coast Railway Begins Operations, Enhancing Rail Infrastructure in Southern India
The South Coast Railway (SCoR), the newest zone of Indian Railways, officially commenced operations on June 1, 2026. This development increases the total number of railway zones in India to 18. The zone is headquartered in Visakhapatnam and was established as part of a major railway reorganization aimed at improving operational efficiency and boosting rail infrastructure development in southern India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the zone's headquarters in Visakhapatnam on January 8, 2025. The Ministry of Railways formally notified the creation of the new zone through a Gazette notification issued on May 4, 2026. The new zone comprises four divisions: Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, and Guntakal, which handle some of the country's busiest passenger and freight routes.