The Ministry of Railways has officially launched a new logo for Indian Railways, featuring 18 stars to signify the establishment of the South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone, which is the country's 18th railway zone. This updated emblem will be implemented across all platforms starting June 1, 2026. However, the operationalisation of SCoR is facing significant challenges due to staffing shortages. Internal documents reveal that only 183 employees have joined the SCoR Headquarters in Visakhapatnam, falling short of the approved strength of 526. Additionally, the Rayagada Division has only managed to hire 47 personnel out of 191 approved positions. The Railway Board has expressed serious concerns regarding the lack of cooperation from existing zones, with more than 600 pending No Objection Certificate (NOC) requests. To address these issues, a review meeting chaired by the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board is scheduled for May 20, where General Managers and Principal Chief Personnel Officers are expected to present detailed compliance reports. A senior railway official emphasized the complexity of operationalising a new zone, highlighting the need for effective inter-zonal coordination.