Source: IE
Context: The Union Cabinet recently approved splitting the Waltair Railway Division. This division is one of the highest revenue zones for Indian Railways. The split will create the new South Coast Railway Zone (SCoR).
About South Coast Railway Zone (SCoR):
- Established in: 2025 (approved by the Union Cabinet on February 7, 2025).
- Headquarters: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
- Jurisdiction: Covers parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, including key divisions like Vijayawada, Guntur, and Visakhapatnam.
- Reason for Bifurcation: The government implemented this to meet the goals of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. It aims to improve logistics, boost industrial growth, and enhance tourism in the area.
About Waltair Railway Division:
- Earlier under the East Coast Railway.
- Generates high revenue because of freight traffic from mining and steel industries in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
- The government split Waltair Railway Division into two parts:
- One part is now Visakhapatnam Railway Division, added to the new railway zone.
- New Division: The second part will be a new division. It will have its headquarters in Rayagada, Odisha, under the East Coast Railway.
Additional information:
- The Indian Railways have 70 divisions under its 17 zones.
- Recent addition is Jammu Railway division.
- If you include Metro Railway and Kolkata India has 19 zones in total.
- Each zone has a General Manager (GM) in charge. A Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) leads each division.
