Sc Divisions
South Central Railway – Divisional Overview (Sc Divisions)
1. Introduction
South Central Railway (SCR) is one of the 19 zones of Indian Railways. Headquartered at Secunderabad (hence the telegraph code “SC”), it was carved out of Southern Railway on 2-10-1966. SCR presently has 6 active divisions whose collective route-km, traffic density and infrastructure make the zone a critical trunk route connecting North-South & East-West corridors.
2. Technical Snapshot (2023-24)
| Parameter | SCR Zone | All-India Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Route-km | 5,975 km (3.7 % of IR) | 7th |
| Running Track-km | 8,840 km | 6th |
| Electrified Route | 5,340 km (89.4 %) | 4th |
| No. of Divisions | 6 | – |
| Avg. Daily Freight Loading | 2.05 MT | 3rd |
| Avg. Daily Passenger Earnings | ₹10.4 Cr | 4th |
| Staff Strength | 1.02 lakh | 5th |
3. SCR Divisions – Key Facts & Figures
| Division | Date of Formation | HQ | Route-km (2024) | Key Workshops | Major Jn | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secunderabad | 02-10-1966 | Secunderabad | 1,141 | Secunderabad, Lallaguda | Secunderabad, Kazipet, Vikarabad | Zonal HQ; twin-city suburban; Hyderabad Metro Rail interface |
| Vijayawada | 02-10-1966 | Vijayawada | 1,274 | Vijayawada, Rayanapadu | Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali | Busiest junction (385 trains/day); 4th largest freight loading on IR |
| Guntakal | 02-10-1966 | Guntakal | 1,097 | Guntakal, Ponmalai (Golden Rock) | Guntakal, Gooty, Renigunta | Only SCR division with both BG & MG sections (till 2007); diesel legacy |
| Guntur | 01-04-2003 (bifurcated from Vijayawada) | Guntur | 630 | – | Guntur, Nallapadu, Piduguralla | Entirely BG; heavy cotton & chillies freight; new Guntur–Amaravati line |
| Hyderabad | 01-04-2003 (bifurcated from Secunderabad) | Hyderabad | 507 | – | Hyderabad, Lingampalli, Falaknuma | City-centric commuter services; MMTS Phase-II; 3rd rail 25 kV AC |
| Nanded | 01-04-2003 (bifurcated from Secunderabad) | Nanded | 324 | – | Nanded, Purna, Parbhani | Marathwada region; cotton & soybean belt; new Nanded-Hingoli doubling |
4. Historical Milestones
- 1966: SCR born with 3 divisions – Secunderabad, Vijayawada, Guntakal.
- 1979: Kazipet–Balharshah 3rd line commissioned – first 3-line section in SCR.
- 1993: Introduction of “Satavahana Express” (first ISO-certified train of IR) between Vijayawada & Secunderabad.
- 2003: Trifurcation creates Guntur, Hyderabad & Nanded divisions to improve admin & punctuality.
- 2012: SCR becomes 100 % computerised PRS zone.
- 2019: Entire SCR route brought under RLDA for station redevelopment (Secunderabad, Vijayawada, Guntakal selected).
- 2022: Kazipet–Vijayawada 4th line commissioned – 1st 4-line corridor in South India.
- 2023: SCR wins “Best Zonal Efficiency” shield for incremental freight loading (+11 %).
5. Infrastructure & Engineering Highlights
5.1 Track & Bridges
- Longest Bridge: Godavari Bridge at Rajahmundry – 2.8 km (Vijayawada division).
- Highest Ruling Gradient: 1 in 60 (Ghat section) – Braganza Ghats (Guntakal–Vasco).
- Longest Tunnel: 2.8 km – Patalganga Tunnel (Kazipet–Balharshah 3rd line).
5.2 Traction
- 25 kV AC completed on 05-09-2022; last section Nizamabad–Purna energised.
- Twin-Transformer 12-car EMU rakes introduced in Hyderabad MMTS (2021).
5.3 Signalling
- 80 % route equipped with RRI/ECR; 350 stations on Centralised Traffic Control (CTC).
- Kavach (Train Collision Avoidance System): Pilot between Vijayawada–Gudur (2023).
5.4 Workshops
| Workshop | Division | Annual POH Capacity | Speciality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lallaguda | Secunderabad | 250 locos | 1st in IR to POH 12,000 HP HOG WAG-12 |
| Rayanapadu | Vijayawada | 1,200 coaches | CBC & LHB conversion hub |
| Golden Rock (Ponmalai) | Guntakal | 1,000 coaches | Only pit for Nilgiri Mountain Railway heritage stock |
| Guntakal Diesel Shed | Guntakal | 180 locos | Largest EMD GT46MAC (5500 HP) fleet |
6. Current Status & Recent Updates (2024)
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: Secunderabad (₹720 Cr), Vijayawada (₹550 Cr), Guntakal (₹190 Cr) approved.
- New Division Proposal: Government of Telangana has requested Warangal as 7th division (under consideration).
- Semi-High Speed: Trial run of Vande Bharat (2.0) touched 160 km/h between Vijayawada–Chennai (Feb 2024).
- Green Energy: SCR commissioned 5 MW solar roof at Secunderabad station – zonal record.
- Freight Corridors: Krishnapatnam–Raichur new line (180 km) sanctioned in Budget 2024-25 – will create new freight circuit bypassing Vijayawada.
7. MCQs – SCR Divisions
1. South Central Railway was constituted on which date?
2 October 1966
2. Which is the newest division of SCR?
Nanded (2003)
3. The headquarters of Guntakal division is located in which state?
Andhra Pradesh
4. Which SCR division has the longest route-km as per 2024 data?
Vijayawada (1,274 km)
5. The Godavari Bridge, the longest rail bridge in SCR, lies in which division?
Vijayawada
6. SCR became 100 % electrified in which year?
2022
7. Which workshop in SCR is equipped to POH WAG-12 HOG locomotives?
Lallaguda
8. The first ISO-certified train of Indian Railways, “Satavahana Express”, runs between?
Vijayawada – Secunderabad
9. Which division was bifurcated to create both Hyderabad and Nanded divisions?
Secunderabad
10. The 4th line between Kazipet–Vijayawada was commissioned in?
2022
11. The heritage stock of Nilgiri Mountain Railway is POHed at which SCR workshop?
Golden Rock (Ponmalai)
12. Which of the following divisions does NOT have a loco shed?
Guntur
13. The proposed 7th division of SCR, demanded by Telangana Government, is?
Warangal
14. The highest freight loading division of SCR is?
Vijayawada
15. The first section in SCR to get a 3rd line was?
Kazipet–Balharshah (1979)
16. Which division handles the Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS)?
Hyderabad
17. The diesel loco shed at Guntakal houses which high-horsepower EMD class?
GT46MAC (5500 HP)
BETA
