Railway Zones in India List, Headquarters, Established Year

Railway Zones in India are administrative divisions of Indian Railways. There is a total of 19 railway zones in India (including Metro Railway, Kolkata). Check here List of Railway Zones in India.

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Railway Zones in India

The Indian Railways, one of the largest railway networks in the world, plays a crucial role in connecting the vast expanse of India’s diverse landscape. To efficiently manage and operate this extensive railway network, the Indian Railways is divided into various zones. Railway Zones in India are responsible for managing a specific region, ensuring seamless connectivity, and providing safe and reliable transportation services to millions of passengers and freight across the country.

These railway zones serve as the backbone of India’s transportation system, connecting people and places while contributing significantly to the nation’s economic growth and development. Railway zones in India are administrative divisions of Indian Railways, each responsible for managing and operating a specific region of the vast railway network across the country.

How many Railway Zones are in India?

There is a total of 19 railway zones in India (including Metro Railway, Kolkata). These zones are responsible for managing and operating the Indian Railways network in different regions of the country. Each of these Zones is divided into Divisions. There are more than 70 Railway Divisions in India at present.

List of Railway Zones in India

Check here the complete List of Railway Zones in India with all other important information such as their establishment year, headquarters, how many states are covered by each zone, no. of divisions in that zone and their significance.

Name of Zone	Headquarters	Year of Establishment	Number of Divisions	States Covered	Importance of Zone
Central Railway	Mumbai CST	1951	05	Maharashtra, parts of MP	Major connectivity in Maharashtra and a crucial link for Central India
Eastern Railway	Kolkata	1952	04	West Bengal, Bihar	Connects key cities and regions in West Bengal and Bihar
East Central Railway	Hajipur	1996	05	Bihar, Jharkhand	Important for Bihar and Jharkhand connectivity
East Coast Railway	Bhubaneswar	2003	03	Odisha, parts of AP	Serves Odisha and parts of Andhra Pradesh
Northern Railway	Delhi	1952	05	Delhi, UP, Haryana, Punjab, J&K, HP	Important for North India’s connectivity
North Central Railway	Prayagraj	2003	03	UP and MP	Covers major parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
North Eastern Railway	Gorakhpur	1952	03	Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura	Connects northeastern states and plays a vital role in the region
North Western Railway	Jaipur	2002	03	Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat	Serves Rajasthan and some regions of Gujarat
Northeast Frontier Rly	Guwahati	1958	05	Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim	Connects Northeastern states and is vital for the region’s development
Southern Railway	Chennai	1951	06	Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, AP	Major link for South India, connecting key states and regions
South Central Railway	Secunderabad	1966	06	Andhra Pradesh, Telangana	Important for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana connectivity
South Eastern Railway	Kolkata	1955	04	West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha	Serves West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha regions
South East Central Rly	Bilaspur	1998	05	Chhattisgarh, parts of MP	Covers Chhattisgarh and parts of Madhya Pradesh
South Western Railway	Hubballi	2003	03	Karnataka, parts of AP, Goa	Serves Karnataka, parts of Andhra Pradesh, and Goa
Western Railway	Mumbai Churchgate	1951	06	Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP	Covers major parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat
West Central Railway	Jabalpur	2003	03	Madhya Pradesh, parts of UP	Serves parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
South Coast Railway	Visakhapatnam	Yet to be notified	–	Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu	Connects geographical region of Northern Circars with Northern Tamil Nadu
Metro Railway Kolkata	Kolkata	1984	01	Urban rail in Kolkata	The urban rail network in Kolkata city

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Management of Railway Zones in India

The management of railway zones in India is structured hierarchically. Indian Railways divides its operations into zones, each further subdivided into divisions.

Each zone is headed by a General Manager (GM), and each division has a Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) as its head.
The DRM is responsible for the efficient functioning of the division and is assisted by one or two Additional Divisional Railway Managers (ADRM).
Various departmental heads, such as those for engineering, mechanical, electrical, accounts, personnel, safety, and more, report to the DRM. The DRM can be appointed from any of the eight organized services of Indian Railways, and they serve a tenure of three years, which can be extended on the recommendation of the Railway Board.
This hierarchical management structure ensures effective administration and coordination of railway operations across different zones and divisions in the country.

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Railway Zone in India UPSC

The topic “Railway Zones in India” holds significance for UPSC aspirants as it is a part of the UPSC Syllabus under the Geography section, particularly in Indian Geography. Understanding the various railway zones, their headquarters, and the states they cover is essential for aspirants preparing for the UPSC examination. Additionally, questions related to railway connectivity, transportation, and regional development may appear in both UPSC Prelims and Mains exams. For comprehensive preparation, UPSC Online Coaching and UPSC Mock Test can aid aspirants in gaining in-depth knowledge of this topic and practising relevant questions, ensuring a strong grasp of India’s railway network and its regional significance in the country’s socio-economic development.

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