Union Minister flags off South Coast Railway Zone, highlights infrastructure push

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday said the commencement of the South Coast Railway Zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam had fulfilled a long-pending aspiration of the people of north Andhra Pradesh.

Participating in the official inauguration programme at Ichchapuram Railway Station, Mr. Naidu said the zone had begun administrative operations from Visakhapatnam and would help address railway-related issues in the region more efficiently.

Recalling his association with the movement for the railway zone, the Minister said he had raised the issue on several occasions in Parliament and participated in protests seeking its establishment. He also referred to the efforts of his late father, former Union Minister Kinjarapu Yerrannaidu, in pursuing the demand.

Mr. Naidu said the Centre was according priority to infrastructure development in Srikakulam district and had sanctioned more than 50 Road Over Bridges (ROBs) at an estimated cost of ₹3,300 crore. One of the ROBs had been sanctioned for Ichchapuram, he said.

Stating that the long-pending Road Over Bridge issue in the town would be resolved, the Minister said the government was committed to improving transport infrastructure and connectivity in the region. He also appealed to the public to utilise the newly introduced Puri-Ahmedabad train service.

The Minister said construction of the South Coast Railway Zone headquarters, spread over 54 acres in Visakhapatnam, had commenced at an estimated cost of ₹400 crore.

Earlier, Mr. Naidu unveiled the South Coast Railway Zone signboard near A.S. Peta and planted saplings. Later, he distributed social security pensions to beneficiaries in Ichchapuram Municipality.

District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar, Government Whip Bendalam Ashok, railway officials, public representatives and local residents were present.