The Railway Board's recent decision to bifurcate the Khurda Road division under the East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone in Odisha has ignited a political uproar. The Palasa-Ichchapuram section, a 50-km stretch located in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, will be moved to the proposed South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone, headquartered in Visakhapatnam. This change is perceived as a threat to Odisha's revenue and control over key railway assets. ECoR, which generates over ₹29,000 crore (approximately $3.5 billion USD) annually, could face a revenue loss of nearly ₹6,000 crore (around $720 million USD) if significant sections are transferred. The controversy has revived longstanding demands for consolidating all railway sections within Odisha under ECoR, as several districts remain under other railway jurisdictions. Political leaders from both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have united in their opposition to the decision, warning of its detrimental financial implications for the state. They argue that the transfer of the Palasa-Ichchapuram section, deemed the 'economic artery of southern Odisha,' could disrupt regional logistics and revenue flows, prompting calls for the creation of a separate railway division in Berhampur.