Cabinet Approves Renaming of Waltair Division as Vishakhapatnam division

The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the renaming of the truncated Waltair division as Vishakhapatnam division. The change aims to shed its colonial legacy while ensuring the region's administrative continuity.
Under the decision, a section of the Waltair division—covering Palasa-Vishakhapatnam-Duvvada, Kuneru-Vizianagaram, and other key routes spanning approximately 410 km—will remain under the newly formed South Coast Railway as the Vishakhapatnam division.
The remaining portion, covering around 680 km, including Kottavalasa-Bacheli and Paralakhemundi-Gunpur, will be carved out as a new division with headquarters in Rayagada under East Coast Railway. The move addresses local aspirations while streamlining railway operations in the region.