Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Srikant Jena has strongly opposed the recent Union Cabinet decision to operationalize the South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone by bifurcating the Waltair Division. Jena has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to create a new railway division in Odisha and integrate four districts currently under the South Eastern Railway (SER).

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Jena expressed his concerns over the merging of Waltair Division’s core area with SCoR, stating that this decision unfairly prioritizes the interests of Andhra Pradesh at the expense of Odisha. The senior Congress leader, who is also a member of the steering committee of the Odisha Congress, described the move as an example of a state-centric approach to railway restructuring.

Jena argued that Andhra Pradesh can establish its own railway zone with existing divisions such as Guntur, Vijayawada, and Guntakal without disrupting Odisha’s railway network. He criticized the bifurcation of East Coast Railway’s (ECoR) Waltair Division, calling it an unjust move that undermines the efficiency of ECoR while stagnating the growth of Odisha’s railway infrastructure.

The Congress leader emphasized the need for Odisha to have a dedicated railway division to boost connectivity and economic development in the region. He pointed out that integrating the four affected districts into a new Odisha-based railway division would ensure a fair and balanced approach to railway restructuring.

The Union Cabinet’s decision to operationalize SCoR by merging Waltair’s key regions with Andhra Pradesh has drawn criticism from various quarters in Odisha. Experts and political leaders have raised concerns over the impact of this restructuring on the state’s railway connectivity and economic prospects.

Jena urged the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision and ensure that Odisha’s railway interests are not compromised. He also called for a transparent and equitable approach in railway reforms that takes into account the developmental needs of all states involved.