Bhubaneswar, May 7: Indian Railways has reiterated that the construction of the South Coast Railway will not adversely affect Odisha. This clarification comes in response to misleading reports suggesting significant harm to the state due to the new railway zone.
Officials dismissed these claims as factually incorrect, attributing them to individuals and groups with vested interests.
According to official information, the newly formed South Coast Railway includes a 53-kilometer extension from Palasa to Ichchapuram in the Visakhapatnam division, featuring seven stations: Palasa, Sumadevi, Mandasa Road, Baruva, Sompeta, Jhadupudi, and Ichchapuram, all located in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district.
This clearly indicates that no part of Odisha is being transferred to Andhra Pradesh, rendering the claims of regional loss baseless.
Additionally, railway routes totaling 696 kilometers, including Koraput-Singapur Road, Kothavalasa-Kirandul, Kuneru-Therubuli, and Gunupur-Paralakhemundi, will remain under the newly established Rayagada division of the East Coast Railway.
Railways emphasized that under no circumstances will any part of Odisha fall under the administrative jurisdiction of Andhra Pradesh. They urged the public not to be misled by unfounded and deliberately spread misinformation.
It is noteworthy that the central government recently issued a gazette notification establishing the South Coast Railway zone, headquartered in Visakhapatnam, effective June 1, 2026.
Following the reorganization of the South Central Railway (SCR) and East Coast Railway (ECR), the new zone will include divisions such as Guntakal, Guntur, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam, fulfilling a long-standing demand from Andhra Pradesh.
However, this move has sparked protests in Odisha, with parties like BJD, Congress, leftist groups, and various opposition factions demanding an immediate reversal of the decision to transfer the Palasa-Ichchapuram section to the South Coast Railway (SCoR).
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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