Indian Railways clarifies regarding some stations included in newly created South Coast Railway Zone
New Delhi, April 5
The Indian Railways on Sunday announced the creation of the South Coast Railway Zone, with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam, clarifying concerns regarding stations in the Srikakulam district.
A factual note from the Railways stated that the Palasa-Ichchapuram section, spanning approximately 50 km, comprises seven stations -- Palasa, Summadevi, Mandasa Road, Baruva, Sompeta, Jhadupudi, and Ichchapuram -- all located in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, with none situated in Odisha.
"These stations are small to mid-sized stations handling primarily passenger traffic. None of them is a major freight loading point. Therefore, ECoR's revenue remains unaffected," the Railways clarified.
It further added that pass-through freight traffic will continue uninterrupted regardless of which zone has jurisdiction, ensuring railway operations remain seamless across zonal boundaries.
"No disruption to train services. All existing trains, including Palasa-Bhubaneswar, Palasa-Cuttack, and Ichchapuram-Cuttack MEMU/passenger services, will continue to operate without any change in schedule, route, or frequency," the statement said.
The Railways described the creation of SCoR as a technical revision aimed at ensuring the smooth functioning of passenger services in the Visakhapatnam division.
"The modalities of the transfer, including staff deployment, are being finalised between ECoR and SCoR. The interests and service conditions of all railway employees will be fully protected as per established norms," it added.
The note reaffirmed the government's commitment to Odisha, highlighting "record capital expenditure on railway network expansion in Odisha, station modernisation, Vande Bharat services, and the newly created Rayagada Division under ECoR" as evidence of ongoing support.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone from Visakhapatnam, this is welcome news. Having the headquarters here will bring more development and job opportunities to the city. The clarification about no disruption to existing train services is very important for daily commuters.
While the clarification is appreciated, I hope this "technical revision" actually translates to tangible benefits for passengers. Often these administrative changes are announced with big promises, but we don't see improvement in punctuality or cleanliness at stations like Palasa or Sompeta.
Most important line in the whole note: "The interests and service conditions of all railway employees will be fully protected." Railway staff have families and commitments. Glad they are being considered in this transition. 🙏
The government's reassurance about continued investment in Odisha's railways is crucial. The Rayagada Division and Vande Bharat services are significant developments. This zone creation seems like a logical step for operational efficiency, not a political move.
Interesting to see how India manages its massive railway network. This seems like a sensible administrative clarification. Seamless operations across zones is key for a network this size.
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