The decision to merge Raichur and Yadgir districts into the South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone, headquartered in Visakhapatnam, has triggered widespread discontent in Kalyana Karnataka. Residents and leaders argue that managing railway operations from 800 km away is impractical and inconvenient.
The South Coast Railway zone, officially launched on January 8 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, now oversees the railway network of Raichur and Yadgir. This means that locals must now travel to Visakhapatnam for administrative concerns, a move that has drawn severe criticism from political leaders, railway users, and advocacy groups.
Demanding a dedicated railway zone in Kalaburagi, MP G Kumar Nayak has voiced strong opposition in a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He condemned the Union government for what he described as a consistent bias against Kannadigas, highlighting that 30 lakh people in Raichur and Yadgir would be negatively impacted by this decision.
The restructuring has reignited discussions about regional autonomy in railway administration, with leaders urging the government to reconsider the move and establish a Kalyana Karnataka Railway Zone for better accessibility and governance.
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