Promise Made, Power Denied: South Coast Railway Zone in Limbo
The long-pending operationalisation of the South Coast Railway Zone in Visakhapatnam is drawing increasing concern from experts and policymakers, as the Ministry of Railways continues to withhold the crucial Gazette notification required to make the zone functional.
Despite visible progress in infrastructure and staffing, the absence of this legal notification has left the zone in a state of administrative paralysis. Without it, key aspects such as jurisdiction, divisional control, and operational authority remain undefined.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently informed the Lok Sabha that interim operations are being conducted from “The Deck” facility in Siripuram. He noted that a General Manager and senior officials have been appointed and that a control office is already in place. However, experts argue that these steps, while necessary, fall short of meaningful progress without formal notification.
“Creating a zone without issuing the Gazette notification is like building an engine without fuel,” said a senior railway policy analyst, requesting anonymity. “You may have the structure in place, but it simply cannot move forward in any real sense.”
At Mudasarlova, construction of the permanent headquarters is underway, backed by substantial financial allocations. Yet, the lack of formal authority continues to stall the zone’s full functionality.
General Manager Sandeep Mathur, who has been in office for over six months, remains unable to exercise full powers. Divisions expected to come under the new zone continue to report to their existing parent zones, creating a fragmented administrative setup.
“This kind of dual control defeats the very rationale behind forming a new railway zone,” noted a former Railway Board official. “Zones are meant to streamline operations and improve efficiency. Without clarity on jurisdiction, it only adds another layer of confusion.”
Public representatives have repeatedly raised the issue. MPs M. Sribharat and Kalisetti Appalanaidu, along with Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, have urged the Centre to expedite the process. However, expected timelines linked to major festivals have passed without any concrete action.
From a financial and planning standpoint, the groundwork appears solid. Over 52.2 acres have been allocated for the zonal office, with ₹106.89 crore sanctioned earlier. Of the ₹55 crore earmarked for 2025–26, a significant portion has already been spent, and additional funds have been approved for staff housing and infrastructure.
Yet, the delay continues to raise uncomfortable questions.
“Policy intent must translate into administrative action within a reasonable timeframe,” said a transport economist. “When projects reach this stage and still lack legal backing, it signals gaps in coordination and prioritisation at higher levels.”
As infrastructure rises and appointments are made, the absence of the Gazette notification remains the single biggest roadblock. Until it is issued, experts agree that the South Coast Railway Zone will remain operationally constrained, existing more as a proposal on paper than a fully empowered institution.