View source for South Central Railway zone

{{Short description|One of the 17 railway zones in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail
| railroad_name     = South Central Railway
| logo_filename     = South Central Railway Zone.svg
| logo_size         = 100px
| system_map        = Indianrailwayzones-numbered.png
| map_caption       = 6-South Central Railway
| map_size          =
| marks             =
| image             = Secunderabad pano 18082017.jpg
| image_size        =
| image_caption     = SCR's largest station, the [[Secunderabad Railway Station]]
| locale            = [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telangana]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Karnataka]] 
| start_year        = {{start date and age|df=yes|1966|10|2}}
| end_year          =
| predecessor_line  = [[Southern Railway zone]]<br/>[[Central Railway zone]]
| successor_line    =
| gauge             = 
| old_gauge         =
| electrification   = 
| length            = 
| hq_city           = [[Rail Nilayam]], Secunderabad
| website           = https://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/
}}
The '''South Central Railway ''' (abbreviated '''SCR''') is one of the 19 zones of [[Indian Railways]].<ref name="zone">{{cite web|title=Zones & Division|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,304,366,533,1007,1012|website=Indian Railways|publisher=Ministry of Railways (Railway Board)|access-date=4 November 2016}}</ref> The jurisdiction of the zone is spread over the states of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telangana]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Karnataka]].<ref name="profile" /> It has three divisions under its administration, which include [[Secunderabad railway division|Secunderabad]], [[Hyderabad railway division|Hyderabad]] and [[Nanded railway division|Nanded]]. [[Secunderabad, Telangana]] is the Zonal headquarter.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Umashankar |first1=JBS |title=Nizam was way ahead of his time |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/328902/he-way-ahead-his-time.html |website=Deccan Herald |language=en |date=27 April 2013}}</ref><ref name="zones_and_divisions">{{cite web |title=Railway Zones and Divisions in The Country |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=168812. |website=Press Information Bureau |publisher=Ministry of Railways (Government of India) |access-date=1 January 2025 |date=21 July 2017}}</ref>

== History ==
Ex MP [[Bayya Suryanarayana Murthy]] requested the creation of a new railway zone.<ref>https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1664/1/lsd_02_04_27-02-1958.pdf page 65</ref>

The zone was formed on 2 October 1966 by merging the carved-out divisions of [[Hubli railway division|Hubli]], [[Vijayawada railway division|Vijayawada]] of [[Southern Railway zone]] and [[Solapur railway division|Solapur]], [[Secunderabad railway division|Secunderabad]] of [[Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cabaltimes.com/2016/06/28/nizam/12/|title=The Secret History of Hyderabad State of the Nizam (1724-1948)|last=Subani|first=Hamad|date=28 June 2016|work=Cabal Times|page=12}}</ref> On 2 October 1977, Guntakal division of Southern Railway zone was merged and the already merged division of Solapur was demerged from the zone and became part of its former Central Railway zone. On 17 February 1978, the Hyderabad division was formed by splitting the existing Secunderabad railway division. On 1 April 2002, two new divisions of Guntur and Nanded were created in this zone and the Hubli division was demerged and became part of [[South Western Railway zone]].<ref name="profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1|title=History|website=South Central Railway|publisher=South Central Railway CMS Team|access-date=4 November 2016}}</ref>
The [[Khandwa]] [[Akola]] section was merged into [[Bhusawal railway division|Bhusaval Division]] of Central Railways as the line was taken up for Gauge Conversion in 2017. On 27 February 2019, AP part of [[Waltair railway division|Waltair Division]], [[Vijayawada railway division|Vijayawada]], [[Guntur railway division|Guntur]] and [[Guntakal railway division|Guntakal]] divisions were merged into newly formed [[South Coast Railway zone]].

== Jurisdiction ==

The zone is spread over the states of [[Telangana]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], [[Chhattisgarh]].

==Divisions==

* [[Secunderabad railway division]]
* [[Hyderabad railway division]]
* [[Nanded railway division]]

== Infrastructure ==
=== Workshops ===
The zone has mechanical workshops at [[Mettuguda]] and [[Lallaguda]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,383,545|title=South Central Railway|website=www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in}}</ref>

=== Sheds ===
The zone has diesel loco sheds at [[Kazipet]] and [[Moula Ali]]. The zone has electric loco sheds at [[Electric Loco Shed, Lallaguda|Lallaguda]](Secunderabad) and [[Kazipet]]. The zone has one EMU Car shed at [[Moula Ali]] EMU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,516,1544|title=South Central Railway|website=www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in}}</ref>

=== Depots ===
The zone has Passenger coach care depots at [[Hyderabad]], [[Secunderabad]], [[Kacheguda]], [[Kazipet]], [[Nanded]] and [[Purna]]. Additionally, [[Ramagundam]], [[Bellampally]] have wagon maintenance depots.

=== Training institutes ===
The zone has training institutes for imparting and learning railway techniques serving both Indian as well foreign railway staff at [[Secunderabad]], [[Kazipet]] and [[Washim]].

=== Healthcare ===
Railway Hospitals located in these areas
Div. Hospitals at Secunderabad, Kazipet and Nanded have healthcare facilities serving exclusively for the employees of Indian railways and their families.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1|title=South Central Railway|website=www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in}}</ref>

==Loco sheds==
* [[Electric Loco Shed, Lallaguda]]
* [[Electric Loco Shed, Kazipet]]
* [[Diesel Loco Shed, Moula Ali]]
* [[Diesel Loco Shed, Kazipet]]

==Routes==
* [[New Delhi–Chennai main line|Delhi-Chennai main line]] (a diagonal of the [[Golden Quadrilateral|golden quadrilateral]] Grand trunk route) connecting north-south regions.
*{{rws|Balharshah}} Jn-{{rws|Kazipet}} Jn- {{rws|Kondapalli}} (end points excluded).
*{{rws|Kazipet}}Jn- {{rws|Secunderabad}} Jn-{{rws|wadi}} Jn(excl) connecting delhi-chennai line to [[Mumbai-Chennai line]]
*{{rws|Manmad}}Jn- {{rws|Hazur Sahib Nanded}}-{{rws|Secunderabad}}Jn- {{rws|Dhone}}Jn
*[[Peddapalli Junction railway station|Peddapalli]]Jn- {{rws|Nizamabad}}Jn
*Kakatiya Express line, traveling from [[Kothagudem]] to [[Secunderabad]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srinivas |first=P. |date=2025-08-12 |title=Kakatiya Express Stopped At Karepalli station For An Hour As Monkey Hits Power Line |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/telangana/kakatiya-express-stopped-at-karepalli-station-for-an-hour-as-monkey-hits-power-line-1896966 |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=www.deccanchronicle.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-09 |title=Good News for Telangana Railway Passengers |url=https://www.ap7am.com/en/76658/good-news-for-telangana-railway-passengers |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=ap7am.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Major junctions==
*[[Dornakal Junction railway station|Dornakal Jn]]
*[[Kazipet Junction railway station|Kazipet Jn.]]
*[[Mudkhed Junction railway station|Mudkhed Jn.]]
*[[Nizamabad Junction railway station|Nizamabad Jn.]]
*[[Parbhani Junction railway station|Parbhani Jn.]]
*[[Peddapalli Junction railway station|Peddapalli Jn.]]
*[[Purna Junction railway station|Purna Jn.]]
*[[Secunderabad Junction railway station|Secunderabad Jn.]]
*[[Vikarabad Junction railway station|Vikarabad Jn.]]
*[[Manoharabad railway station|Manoharabad Jn.]]

== Projects ==

[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laying the Foundation Stone for Manoharabad-Kothapalli Railway Line, in Telangana.jpg|thumb|Kothapalli-Manoharabad railway foundation stone being laid]]

* Rail Manufacturing Unit, Kazipet<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railnews.in/railways-assure-periodic-wagon-overhauling-workshop-at-kazipet-by-2019-march-end/|title=Railways assure Periodic Wagon Overhauling Workshop at Kazipet by 2019 March-end – RailNews Media India Ltd|website=www.railnews.in}}</ref>

*The [[Kothapalli–Manoharabad_line|Manoharabad-Kothapally]] railway line, which connects [[Karimnagar]] to [[Manoharabad]] is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in 2025.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.en.etemaaddaily.com/world/national/modi-lays-foundation-stone-for-new-manoharabad-kothapalli-railway-line:15656 | title=Modi lays foundation stone for new Manoharabad-Kothapalli Railway line }}</ref>
* [[Mahabubnagar–Munirabad railway line|Mahbubnagar-Munirabad new line]], this line received funds in the 2023 Union Budget<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/rs-4418-crore-sanctioned-for-rail-projects-across-telangana/articleshow/97593009.cms | title=Rs 4,418 crore sanctioned for rail projects across Telangana | newspaper=The Times of India | date=4 February 2023 }}</ref>

== Performance and earnings ==

For FY 2024–25 first quarter, the zone operated an average of 315.44 mail/exp and 162.18 passenger trains on a daily basis.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us - Profile |url=https://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE&lang=0&id=0,1 |website=scr.indianrailways.gov.in |access-date=11 January 2025}}</ref> For the financial year 2023–24, the zone had grossed a record revenue of {{INRConvert|20339|c|abbr=on}}, an increase on 7% from the previous fiscal. It recorded passenger footfall of {{Nowrap|262.62 million}} and earned {{INRConvert|5731.8|c|abbr=on}}. While, the freight earnings stood at {{INRConvert|13620|c|abbr=on}} by transporting {{Nowrap|141.12 [[million]] [[tonnes]]}}.<ref name="2023-24">{{cite news |last1=Service |first1=Express News |title=SCR sets new record, achieves Rs 20K crore revenue in FY 2023-24 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2024/Apr/18/scr-sets-new-record-achieves-rs-20k-crore-revenue-in-fy-2023-24 |access-date=1 January 2025 |work=The New Indian Express |date=18 April 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Today |first1=Telangana |title=SCR surpasses Rs 20,000 crore gross originating revenue milestone |url=https://telanganatoday.com/scr-surpasses-rs-20000-crore-gross-originating-revenue-milestone |access-date=1 January 2025 |work=Telangana Today |date=17 April 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ SCR FY Gross Revenue
|-
! {{Abbr|FY|Financial Year}} !! Originating Gross Revenue !! Freight Earnings !! Originating Freight Loading !! Originating Passenger Earnings !! Originating Passengers Transported
|-
| 2024–25 || {{INRConvert|20452|c|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite news |title=SCR registers best-ever gross originating revenue of over Rs 20K cr |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/scr-registers-best-ever-gross-originating-revenue-of-over-rs-20k-cr-960867 |access-date=8 April 2025 |work=The Hans India |date=8 April 2025 |location=Hyderabad |language=en}}</ref> || {{INRConvert|13825|c|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Service |first1=Express News |title=South Central Railway 2024–25 freight load surpasses previous record |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2025/Apr/02/south-central-railway-202425-freight-load-surpasses-previous-record |access-date=5 April 2025 |work=The New Indian Express |date=2 April 2025 |location=Hyderabad |language=en}}</ref> ||  ||  || 
|-
| 2023–24<ref name="2023-24" /> || {{INRConvert|20339|c|abbr=on}} || {{INRConvert|13620|c|abbr=on}} || {{Nowrap|1591 [[Million|M]][[Tonne|T]]}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Twesh |title=Railways records highest ever loading in fiscal 2023-24 |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/railways-records-highest-ever-loading-in-fiscal-2023-24/articleshow/108950034.cms?from=mdr |access-date=11 January 2025 |work=The Economic Times |date=1 April 2024}}</ref> || {{INRConvert|5731.8|c|abbr=on}} || {{Nowrap|262.62 million}}
|-
| 2022–23<ref name="2022-23">{{cite news |title=SCR registers highest gross originating revenue of nearly Rs 19,000 cr |url=https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/scr-registers-highest-gross-originating-revenue-of-nearly-rs-19-000-cr-123041700784_1.html |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=www.business-standard.com |agency=Press Trust of India |issue=Business Standard |date=17 April 2023 |location=Hyderabad}}</ref> || {{INRConvert|18976|c|abbr=on}} || || {{Nowrap|1512 [[Million|M]][[Tonne|T]]}}<ref name="2022-23_pib">{{cite web |author1= |title=Best Ever Freight Performance of Indian Railways for FY 2022-23 |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1913114 |website=Press Information Bureau |access-date=10 January 2025 |location=Delhi |date=2 April 2023}}</ref> || {{INRConvert|5140.70|c|abbr=on}} || {{Nowrap|255.59 million}}
|-
| 2021–22<ref name="2022-23" /> || {{INRConvert|14266|c|abbr=on}} || || {{Nowrap|1418 [[Million|M]][[Tonne|T]]}}<ref name="2022-23_pib" /> || || {{Nowrap|127.4 million}}
|}

== Achievements ==

* For FY 2024–25, as part of ‘Mission Zero Scrap’, the zone earned a whopping {{INRConvert|5017.2|m|abbr=on}} by the sale of scrap.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Today |first1=Telangana |title=SCR achieves record Rs 501.72 cr scrap revenue in 'Mission Zero Scrap' |url=https://telanganatoday.com/scr-achieves-record-rs-501-72-cr-scrap-revenue-in-mission-zero-scrap |access-date=5 April 2025 |work=Telangana Today |date=2 April 2025 |location=Hyderabad |language=en}}</ref> 
* In 2018, for the cleanliness category, it was ranked second among all railway zones in India.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/scr-ranks-2nd-in-cleanliness/article24682616.ece|title=SCR ranks 2nd in cleanliness|date=2018-08-13|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-04-29|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
* South Central Railway topped among all railway zones of India in terms of train punctuality and passenger earnings in 2016–17.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/sc-railway-trains-most-punctual/article18164009.ece|title=SC Railway trains most punctual|work=The Hindu |date=21 April 2017|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
* The zone has become the first in the country to complete 100% LED lighting at all 733 stations under its jurisdiction.

== See also ==
* [[Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System|MMTS Hyderabad]]
* [[All India Station Masters' Association (AISMA)]]
* [[Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1656510753899-sysmap.A1.pdf South Central Railway System Map]
* {{Official website|http://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/|South Central Railway zone}}

{{commons category|South Central Railway zone}}

{{Indian Railways}}
{{South Central Railway zone}}

{{coord missing|Telangana}}

{{Hyderabad topics}}

[[Category:Zones of Indian Railways]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Telangana]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1966]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in India]]