Shrinking East Coast Railway limits will not affect freight revenues, says Ministry

Following political backlash over a proposal to maneuver seven railway stations below the East Coast Railway (ECoR) to the newly created South Coast Railway zone (SCoR), the Ministry of Railways has clarified that the transfer will not lead to income loss on account of freight loading.

The seven stations, Palasa, Summadevi, Mandasa Road, Baruva, Sompeta, Jhadupudi, and Ichchapuram, “are situated in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, none of these stations are located within Odisha,” a senior official from Indian Railways instructed The Hindu.

These stations are small to mid-sized, dealing with primarily passenger visitors. “None of them is a major freight loading point,” the official added. 

ECoR earned ₹29,251.52 crore income in 2025-26 from freight loading of 286 metric tonnes (MT), primarily consisting of iron ore, coal, and bauxite, as much as 10.43% extra that 2024-25 when it earned ₹26,262.59 crore whereas loading 259.25 MT.

“ECoR is the top earning zone for Indian Railways due to freight loading revenue and this trend will not be affected as pointed out by certain political quarters,” the official added. 

The clarification comes after a political backlash in Odisha following an April 2 communication from the Railway Board which proposed the inclusion of seven railway stations below a 52-km lengthy part, at present below Khurda Road division of ECoR, within the proposed Visakhapatnam division of South Coast Railway (SCoR). 

 “The proposed new boundary between Visakhapatnam division/SCoR and Khurda Road division/ECoR may be advised to the Board’s office at the earliest,” Rameshwer Meena, Executive Director (Efficiency & Research), acknowledged within the communication.  

Opposition events in Odisha, together with the Congress and the Biju Janta Dal (BJD), criticised the choice, saying that ‘shrinking’ of the ECoR jurisdiction will affect its freight earnings. 

“Pass through freight traffic (trains transiting through these stations en route) will continue uninterrupted regardless of which zone’s jurisdiction the stations fall under,” the official mentioned. 

Railway operations are seamless throughout zonal boundaries. “All existing trains including Palasa – Bhubaneshwar, Palasa – Cuttack and Ichchapuram – Cuttack MEMU/passenger services will continue to operate without any change in schedule, route, or frequency.  This is a technical revision to ensure smooth functioning of the passenger services in Vishakapatnam division,” the official added. 

The modalities of the switch together with workers deployment, are being finalised between ECoR and SCoR. The pursuits and repair situations of all railway workers will be absolutely protected as per established norms, the clarification mentioned.