South Coast Railway (SCoR) General Manager Sandeep Mathur, alongside senior officials and dignitaries, applauding during the 80th Independence Day celebrations organised by the railway zone at the Railway Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK
The South Coast Railway (SCoR) celebrated the 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour at the Railway Cricket Ground in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. The event held special significance as it marked the zonal railway’s first Independence Day celebrations following its operationalisation on June 1, 2026.The ceremony commenced with the performance of the Vande Mataram song, introduced for the first time in the zone’s celebrations, followed by the hoisting of the National Flag by SCoR General Manager Sandeep Mathur. He inspected a parade presented by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Civil Defence, and Bharat Scouts and Guides.Mr. Mathur highlighted that the new zone spans 3,532 route kilometres across four divisions – Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, and Guntakal. Emphasising safety as the foremost priority, he detailed ongoing infrastructure projects worth ₹1.25 lakh crore, including the ₹299 crore Visakhapatnam Yard Remodelling Project, digital signalling upgrades, and track renewals. He noted that the KAVACH automatic train protection system has been installed in 719 of the zone’s 1,070 locomotives.Key passenger initiatives were also highlighted, including the operation of 76 special trains, the conversion of the Simhadri Express and Guntur-Vikarabad Express to LHB rakes, and the ongoing redevelopment of 69 stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The programme featured cultural performances, a security dog show by RPF personnel, and the distribution of meritorious awards to railway staff. Published - August 15, 2026 08:38 pm IST
