Railways Clarify Palasa–Ichchapuram Merger Will Not Impact ECoR Revenue or Services

Bhubaneswar: Amid mounting protests over the merger of the Palasa–Ichchapuram railway section with the newly formed South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone, Indian Railways on Sunday issued a clarification stating that the move will neither affect the revenue of East Coast Railway (ECoR) nor disrupt train operations.

In an official statement, the South Coast Railway said the Palasa–Ichchapuram stretch, spanning around 50 km, includes seven stations — Palasa, Summadevi, Mandasa Road, Baruva, Sompeta, Jhadupudi, and Ichchapuram. It clarified that all these stations are located in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and none falls within Odisha.

The Railways noted that these stations are small- to mid-sized and primarily cater to passenger traffic, with no major freight loading points. “As a result, there will be no impact on the revenue earnings of East Coast Railway,” the statement said.

Addressing concerns over possible disruptions, SCoR assured that freight trains passing through the section will continue to operate smoothly, irrespective of zonal jurisdiction. It added that railway operations are designed to remain seamless across zones.

The Railways further stated that all existing train services, including those connecting Palasa with Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, as well as Ichchapuram–Cuttack MEMU and passenger trains, will continue without any change in schedule, route, or frequency. The merger, it said, is a technical adjustment aimed at improving operational efficiency under the Visakhapatnam division.

Officials also confirmed that the modalities of the transfer, including staff deployment, are being worked out between ECoR and SCoR. The service conditions and interests of railway employees will be safeguarded as per established norms.

Reiterating its commitment to Odisha, the Railways highlighted ongoing investments in the state, including expansion of the rail network, station modernisation projects, introduction of Vande Bharat services, and the creation of the Rayagada Division under ECoR.

The clarification comes in the wake of strong opposition from political parties such as the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Congress, and CPI(M). At a joint meeting held in Bhubaneswar, leaders of these parties termed the merger as unfortunate and alleged that it would reduce the size of the East Coast Railway zone and adversely impact its revenue.