Mangaluru: The countdown has begun for the transfer of the Mangaluru railway region from the Palakkad division of Southern Railway (SR) to the Mysuru division of South Western Railway (SWR). The jurisdictional change will take effect from the intervening midnight of September 30 and October 1, 2026.

The transition is being closely coordinated by the Palakkad and Mysuru divisions to ensure that train services continue without disruption. Senior officers from the Mysuru division will be present in Mangaluru on September 30 to formally take charge of the administration.

The change follows a Railway Board decision to revise the jurisdictional boundaries between the two railway divisions. Under the new arrangement, the Mangaluru railway area up to Ullal will come under the Mysuru division of SWR.

Mysuru team to take charge on September 30

According to Mysuru Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mittal, a team of senior officers led by Additional Divisional Railway Manager Shammas Hameed will arrive in Mangaluru on September 30 for the formal takeover.

The team is expected to remain in Mangaluru for a few days to oversee the transition and address any operational requirements that may arise.

The primary focus during the changeover will be the transfer of operational control from Palakkad division to Mysuru division. Railway officials have been holding coordination meetings to ensure that the transfer does not affect the movement of passenger or freight trains.

New control board being prepared

One of the key changes will be the creation of a new control arrangement at the Mysuru divisional headquarters.

A new control board is being prepared to regulate railway operations in the Mangaluru region. From September 28, controllers from Mysuru division will receive viewing rights to the existing operations so that they can familiarise themselves with the traffic pattern and working arrangements.

From midnight on September 30, the Mysuru controllers will take operational control. Controllers from Palakkad division will retain viewing rights and assist during the transition wherever required.

At present, Palakkad division operates three control boards covering Palakkad-Shoranur, Shoranur-Kannur and Kannur-Mangaluru.

The Mysuru division currently has three control boards covering Mysuru-Chamarajanagar-Hassan-Bantwal, Birur-Chikkajajur-Harihar and Kadur-Chikkamagaluru-Shivamogga sections.

A new control board will incorporate the Mangaluru region into the Mysuru division’s operational network up to Alur in Hassan district. With the change, the number of block stations under Mysuru division will increase from 92 to 99.

Train maintenance will continue at Mangaluru

The jurisdictional change will not immediately alter the primary maintenance arrangements for trains at the Mangaluru coaching depot.

According to the Mysuru DRM, there will be no change in train operations or primary maintenance at the Mangaluru coaching depot for at least the first three months following the transfer.

This is intended to provide continuity while the administrative and operational systems are integrated under the Mysuru division.

The transfer is therefore primarily an administrative and operational jurisdictional change rather than an immediate overhaul of train services or maintenance facilities.

Interchange point to shift from Padil to Ullal

A major operational change will be the shifting of the interchange point between SWR and SR from Padil to Ullal.

The Railway Board’s August 21 notification fixed the revised jurisdictional arrangements and stated that the existing interchange point at Padil would move to Ullal from October 1. The existing interchange point between Palakkad division and Konkan Railway at Thokur will also become the interchange point between Konkan Railway and Mysuru division of SWR.

The change is expected to simplify coordination when trains cross railway zones.

At present, a passenger or freight train travelling from Bengaluru towards Karwar crosses the SWR-SR boundary at Padil and then the SR-Konkan Railway boundary at Thokur. This requires coordination between multiple railway jurisdictions.

Once the Mangaluru region comes entirely under SWR, the number of zonal jurisdictions involved in the movement will be reduced, potentially making operational coordination simpler.

Seven more block stations for Mysuru division

The transfer will also expand the operational jurisdiction of Mysuru division.

The new arrangement will bring the Mangaluru region into the division’s network and increase the number of block stations from 92 to 99.

The railway administration is preparing systems and personnel arrangements ahead of the change, while officers from both divisions are working together to ensure that the transition takes place without affecting normal railway operations.

The transfer is being implemented according to the Railway Board’s notification issued on August 21, which specified October 1, 2026, as the effective date for the jurisdictional changes.

Focus on uninterrupted train services

With only a few days remaining before the jurisdictional transfer, railway officials are focusing on operational continuity.

The presence of Mysuru division officials in Mangaluru during the initial days is expected to help resolve any issues arising from the changeover. The continued involvement of Palakkad division officials during the transition will also provide operational support.

For passengers, the immediate expectation is that regular train services and existing maintenance arrangements will continue as before. The main change will be which railway division administers and controls the Mangaluru region.

Conclusion

The Mangaluru railway region will formally move from Palakkad division of Southern Railway to Mysuru division of South Western Railway from October 1, 2026. The transition will shift operational control and the SWR-SR interchange point from Padil to Ullal, while existing train operations and primary maintenance at Mangaluru will continue during the initial transition period.