The recent developments in Andhra Pradesh (AP), neighbouring Odisha and the Centre indicate that the Port City is likely to be the headquarters of a new railway zone.

Presently, Vizag is headquarters of the Waltair division of the Bhubaneswar-based East Coast Railway. Now, Vizag is likely to become the headquarters of a new railway zone as promised by the Centre as part of the reorganization of AP.

Vizag MP Kambhampati Haribabu said that "The developments in the previous week has fueled the hopes of Vizagites that Vizag will have better chances for getting the status of the headquarters of a new railway zone."

Haribabu said, apart from several top leaders, even Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu was keen on making Vizag the headquarters of the new railway zone as part of the commitment for decentralized development.

"In the recent meeting with South Central Railway (SCR) general manger PK Srivastava, Naidu and some other key ministers urged the railway officials to go ahead on Vizag as the zonal headquarters," said Haribabu, who also participated in the meet.

Naidu is set to discuss with the railway ministry officials and Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the importance of the demand for a railway zone and Vizag as its headquarters, which has been pending for the last two decades, according to a senior SCR official and senior Telugu Desam Party leader.

"A detailed report on the railway zone issue has also been prepared in line with Naidu's request. The report will be submitted to the Union government on the railway needs of Andhra Pradesh during his scheduled official visit to New Delhi on June 25 and 26," said the SCR official.

Railway officials and elected representatives of neighbouring Odisha had earlier taken the stand that Waltair division, which is headquartered at Vizag, should not be separated from the Bhubaneswar-based East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone.

"More than 50% of the revenue of the entire zone comes from Vizag-based Waltair division and we had made all efforts to ensure that the zone does not lose Waltair division. However, things have changed because of the efforts of the people of Andhra Pradesh who are pressing for a new railway zone headquartered in Vizag, So, we are now asking the state as well as the Centre to allocate special funds for ECoR for its development, including creation of another railway division in place of Waltair, if this is separated from the zone," said a senior Congress leader from Bhubaneswar.