The upcoming South Coast Railway Zone, headquartered in Visakhapatnam, has been facing multiple hurdles ever since it was announced.
After a wait of more than five years, tenders were recently invited for the construction of the Zonal Headquarters. While the tenders provide two years of validity, requests are being made to begin operations of the railway zone in less than two years.
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On the other hand, several doubts loom over the future of the Waltair Division and the numerous people dependent on it. The local people are against the idea of splitting the division between East Coast Railway and South Coast Railway Zones.
Vizag MP Bharat recently urged Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to reconsider the decision to split the Waltair Division, emphasizing that such a move could disrupt administrative efficiency and regional identity. He said that there are people’s sentiments bound with the division.
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Amidst these challenges, another hurdle has emerged for the South Coast Railway Zone. According to the latest reports, the Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line will also be transferred to the East Coast Railway Zone.
Popularly known as the KK line, this railway line falls under the Waltair Division. Spanning 445 km, it passes through Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. The line is crucial for the transport of minerals like coal and iron ore.
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It also serves as a tourist train route, passing through the scenic Araku Valley and various tunnels. This important line is now at risk of being transferred to another zone.
As a result, the people of Uttarandhra are protesting, stating that it is unfair to grant a zone while splitting a division and a railway line. They are demanding that the government allocate both the Waltair Division and the KK line solely to the Visakha Railway Zone.
