Bhubaneswar: The Indian Railways on Sunday issued a detailed clarification addressing concerns over the inclusion of certain stations in the newly formed South Coast Railway, stating that the move will not affect Odisha’s railway operations or revenue.
According to the clarification, the Palasa-Ichchapuram section, spanning 50 km, includes seven stations: Palasa, Suma Devi, Mandasa Road, Baruva, Sompeta, Jhadupudi, and Ichchapuram. All these stations are located in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, and none fall within Odisha’s geographical limits.
Railway officials said these stations are small to medium in size and primarily handle passenger traffic. None of them functions as a major freight loading point, and therefore, their inclusion under a different zone is unlikely to impact the revenue of East Coast Railway, according to an official statement.
The Railways also assured that both passenger and freight operations will continue without disruption. Train services across all routes will remain unaffected, with no changes in schedules, routes, or stoppages. Existing MEMU and passenger services, including Palasa–Bhubaneswar, Palasa–Cuttack, and Ichchapuram–Cuttack, will continue to operate as usual.
Officials described the change as a technical adjustment aimed at improving operational efficiency, particularly in the Visakhapatnam Division. The transition process, including staff deployment between East Coast Railway and South Coast Railway, is currently being finalised. Authorities emphasised that the interests and service conditions of railway employees will remain fully protected in accordance with established rules.
Reaffirming its commitment to Odisha, Indian Railways highlighted ongoing investments in the state. These include expansion of the rail network, station modernisation, introduction of Vande Bharat services, and the creation of the Rayagada Division under East Coast Railway.
The clarification comes amid public concern over the restructuring, with the Railways asserting that the changes are administrative in nature and aimed at ensuring smoother and more efficient railway operations without affecting services in Odisha.
