Staff transfer clears way for South Coast Railway zone

The Railways have approved the transfer of 959 employees from the South Central Railway to the South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone headquarters in Visakhapatnam. The move marks a key step in making the long-pending railway zone operational.

Officials said the Railways aim to start the South Coast Railway Zone as early as possible. They will deploy more staff and fill vacant posts on a priority basis. Adequate manpower is required in every department to ensure smooth functioning, officials said.

South Central Railway General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava and South Coast Railway General Manager Sandeep Mathur decided to move Rail Nilayam, the SCR zonal headquarters. Officials said the step would speed up the formal establishment of the new zone.

Principal Chief Personnel Officers Siddharth Katti and LVSS Patrudu approved the proposal. Railway sources said non-gazetted staff will manage core administrative and daily operational work.

Along with the 959 employees, the Railways will post 22 personnel from the Vijayawada, Guntakal, and Guntur divisions to the South Coast Railway temporarily. Officials said the arrangement would meet immediate staffing needs until regular postings are completed.

Welcoming the decision, Chalasani Gandhi, founding convener of the South Coast Railway Zone Struggle Committee and a member of the DRUCC, Waltair Division, said the move would strengthen the administrative base of the new zone.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government has accelerated preparations to inaugurate the South Coast Railway zonal office on the sixth and seventh floors of The Deck building at Siripuram in Visakhapatnam. Officials said Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu are likely to attend the event.

Railway officials said the South Coast Railway Zone will begin formal operations after the gazette notification is issued.