India's railway infrastructure gets a major boost with the establishment of South Coast Railway Zone. The Centre has officially notified the creation of this new zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters, effective June 1, 2026. The zone will oversee Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada divisions, fulfilling a long-pending demand from Andhra Pradesh following its 2014 bifurcation. Though originally announced in 2019, the project gained momentum after the NDA government took office in the state in 2024. Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for the zonal headquarters building last year. This development is expected to enhance regional connectivity and boost economic activity in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
