VISAKHAPATNAM/VIJAYAWADA : As the Winter Session of Parliament begins on December 1, Andhra Pradesh’s long-pending demands are once again poised to take centrestage.
The gazette notification for the South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone and the formal recognition of Amaravati as AP’s capital have become emblematic of promises made but not yet delivered.
For the people of north coastal Andhra and capital region alike, the Winter Session is a crucial test for political will and administrative resolve.
The SCoR Zone, sanctioned under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act nearly a decade ago, has inched forward in recent months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the zonal headquarters in Visakhapatnam in January, followed by the appointment of a General Manager and senior officials.
Construction of permanent headquarters and staff quarters at Mudasarlova is progressing, while temporary office space has already been prepared at VMRDA’s ‘The Deck’.
Railway unions argue that the zone is ready in all but name, with the gazette notification being the final step to unlock boundary restructuring, staff redistribution, and long-delayed railway projects across coastal Andhra.
Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee member Chalasani Gandhi underscored that earlier expansions of railway zones did not face such prolonged delays, crediting coordinated pressure from public representatives for faster outcomes.
He expressed confidence that with the involvement of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, and Visakhapatnam MP M Sribharat, the Centre will move swiftly.
Sribharat has already announced that the SCoR office is set to commence operations in January, alongside Rs 300 crore redevelopment works of Vizag railway station.
Amaravati recognition to boost farmers’ confidence
At the same time, Amaravati’s fate as the State capital remains unresolved. Despite repeated appeals, the Centre has yet to issue a formal notification. Naidu has made the matter a personal mission, raising it during his every visit to New Delhi.
Addressing Amaravati farmers recently, he reaffirmed his commitment to securing recognition for the capital, and pressed for an extension of capital gains tax exemption on returnable plots given under the land-pooling scheme.
“Ensuring justice to the farmers who gave land for the capital is my personal responsibility,” he declared, stressing that the benefits of Amaravati’s development must reach them first.
For Andhra Pradesh, both notifications carry weight far beyond procedure.
Operationalising SCoR promises a boost to railway efficiency and infrastructure, while recognising Amaravati as the capital is central to restoring confidence among farmers and investors.
Railway unions and political leaders alike are urging a united front from the State MPs in Parliament to ensure these long-pending commitments finally see the light of day.