South coast railway zone with Vizag as the headquarter appears to be in a bit of a mess. Many feel that the reason behind it is the tie-up with East coast railway zone headquartered in Odisha. As the Union Railway Minister is from Odisha, it’s the cause for hurdles, say experts.
While the zone was announced six years back, PM Narendra Modi laid stone for the zonal office, six months back. However, till now, the gazette notification for the zone hasn’t been announced.
For the unversed, the gazette will have all the details like the boundaries of the zones. The zone operation date will also be mentioned in the gazette. Without a gazette, none of the works are progressing.
Due to pressure, the zone with Vizag as the headquarters has been declared. But no further notifications have been given. A general manager has been appointed, but he is like a king without kingdom.
There are also challenges regarding its formation and impact on South Central railway zone. Though South coast zone was announced for administrative efficiency and to boost tourism, it is affecting the geographical area and revenue of South Central railway, leading to delays.
