A significant meeting of top Railway officials and representatives, led by Minister of State for Railways V Somanna, will convene in Mangaluru on Wednesday. The meeting, expected to address railway development plans and construction reviews, is speculated to focus on the potential formation of the Mangaluru Railway Division by dividing Kerala’s Palakkad Division.
The decision could impact Kerala significantly, with concerns raised about the division’s economic implications. Minister V Abdurahiman, responsible for Railways in Kerala, has expressed his lack of official notification and highlighted that Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan is also uninformed. The meeting will take place at 10.45 am in the Mangaluru Zilla Parishad hall, with participation from MPs, MLAs, and Zilla Parishad representatives from Mangaluru and neighboring areas. Railway officials from Southern, South-Western, and Konkan Railways will also attend.
Before the meeting, Minister V Somanna will visit Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction stations and address the media post-meeting. Minister V Abdurahiman voiced concerns about the potential losses for Palakkad Division, particularly revenue from Panambur port, if the division is split. He emphasized the detrimental effects on Kerala’s development plans and criticized the Central Government’s lack of communication with the state. He also mentioned potential protests and plans to approach the Central Railway Minister regarding the issue.