Newly-formed SCoR has bunch of largest sheds in country

Visakhapatnam: The newly-formed South Coast Railway (SCoR) has a bunch of the country’s largest sheds that hold special significance in the Visakhapatnam Division. The SCoR zone now encompasses the country’s largest diesel locomotive shed and an equally big electric locomotive shed.

These railway assets, which functioned under the Waltair Division of the East Coast Railway zone until now, have become an integral part of the Visakhapatnam Division, strengthening its position as a comprehensive railway hub equipped with extensive technical and maintenance infrastructure.

With the reorganisation exercise taking effect, Visakhapatnam has emerged as a key operational centre, housing all major locomotive maintenance facilities. Until alternative arrangements are made, maintenance and repair works for locomotives will continue to be undertaken in Visakhapatnam through its renowned diesel and electric locomotive sheds.

The city has the wagon workshop at Vadlapudi, a vital facility responsible for the repair and upkeep of freight train coaches. The restructuring marks the end of an era with the dissolution of the historic ‘Waltair Division’, a name that had earned national recognition for its outstanding contribution to freight transportation. For decades, the division played a pivotal role in handling freight traffic and was one of the most significant revenue-generating divisions in the Indian Railways network. Following the reorganisation, the century-old Waltair Division has now become part of history. In line with the changes, the high revenue-generating Kothavalasa–Kirandul line, ranked among the top revenue earners in the country, has been merged with the Rayagada Division in Odisha. This development effectively concludes the long-standing revenue-sharing arrangement between the Visakhapatnam and Rayagada divisions. With the two divisions now functioning under separate railway zones, Visakhapatnam may no longer benefit from the freight revenue generated en route. However, the transition presents both challenges and opportunities for the South Coast Railway Zone. As freight revenue dynamics evolve, greater emphasis is expected to be placed on harnessing the economic potential of Visakhapatnam, a city rapidly emerging as a major tourism destination, agricultural trade centre, financial hub and information technology powerhouse.

Railway officials and stakeholders believe that the city’s expanding economic landscape will play a crucial role in supporting the future growth and financial sustainability of the zone.