Modasa (Gujarat): Reorganisation of railways zones and creation of new ones were "not a state centric phenomenon", Railway Minister Nitish Kumar said, even as he announced that the Ahmedabad railway division would start functioning from April 2003.

"Railway zones' reorganisation is not a state centric phenomenon as is always made out to be," Kumar told reporters after flagging off a two-coach train on the inaugural run to Kopadvanj.

"The fact that Railways believed that no zone is state centric was evident from the fact that Kolkata has all three major railway zones," he said, adding, "The metropolis is the headquarter for Eastern, South Eastern Railways, besides the Calcutta Metro Railways which also has zonal status."

Replying to a question whether a separate railway zone would come up in Ahmedabad from "Gujarat's point of view", Kumar said, "Instead there was a long pending demand for a railway division in Ahmedabad and a notification has been issued to that effect."

"The full-fledged division at Ahmedabad would be operational from April 1, 2003," the minister said.

Earlier, addressing the inaugural function, Kumar said Railways have given top priority to safety and security for which a special fund of Rs 17,000 crore has been created.

PTI