Mangaluru: AICC Secretary and MLC P V Mohan has strongly opposed the decision to transfer Mangaluru’s railway administrative jurisdiction from the Palakkad division to the Mysuru division, saying the long-standing demand of coastal Karnataka is for a separate Mangaluru Railway Division.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan on Saturday, September 5, Mohan said the region should welcome the separation from Palakkad but questioned why the jurisdiction was being handed over to Mysuru instead of creating an independent division headquartered in Mangaluru.
“We welcome the separation from Palakkad. But our demand is not to transfer our rights to Mysuru. We want our rights to be given to us,” he said.
‘Mangaluru deserves its own railway division’
Mohan argued that Mangaluru has adequate railway infrastructure, revenue generation and economic activity to qualify for a separate railway division.
He claimed that the city has greater railway infrastructure than Mysuru and said the immediate demand was for a division, although Mangaluru could potentially qualify for an even larger administrative role in the future.
“Mangaluru has more railway infrastructure than Mysuru. If Mysuru is eligible for a division, Mangaluru has even greater eligibility. We can even become a zone, but our immediate demand is a separate division,” he said.
He pointed to the city’s connectivity through the Konkan Railway and Hassan-Mangaluru railway line, besides the importance of the region’s port and industrial infrastructure.
Mangaluru’s two major railway terminals, Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction, were also cited as evidence of the city’s significance as a railway hub.
Port and economic activity highlighted
Mohan said the case for a separate division should be viewed in the context of the wider economic importance of the region.
He highlighted New Mangaluru Port, industries, educational institutions and religious tourism as major contributors to economic activity. According to him, dedicated railway administration could help coordinate infrastructure development and improve connectivity in the region.
He said Mangaluru’s railway network should not be considered in isolation and called for an integrated approach covering coastal Karnataka, Konkan connectivity, the Hassan-Bengaluru corridor and the port.
“Mangaluru has the port, connectivity and economic potential. What is lacking is a focused railway administration that can drive comprehensive development,” he said.
According to Mohan, a separate division could create employment opportunities while helping accelerate infrastructure and economic development.
Demand extends beyond Mangaluru
Mohan stressed that the demand for a separate railway division should not be seen as an issue concerning Mangaluru alone.
He said the interests of the wider coastal region, including Udupi and Uttara Kannada, should also be taken into consideration.
He called for the railway network serving the coastal belt to be viewed as a single economic and transportation region rather than being divided purely according to existing administrative arrangements.
According to him, improved coordination between the port, railway network and major road and industrial corridors would benefit businesses, commuters and the broader regional economy.
Criticism over railway infrastructure
Mohan also criticised the condition of some railway facilities in the region and specifically referred to Padil station.
He questioned whether the existing administrative arrangement had adequately addressed the infrastructure requirements of coastal Karnataka.
The Congress leader argued that the region’s infrastructure needs have increased considerably with the expansion of economic activity and improved connectivity over the years.
He said the railway system should be developed in accordance with the region’s current requirements rather than relying on administrative structures that were established under different circumstances.
Decades-old public movement recalled
Mohan said the demand for a separate Mangaluru Railway Division was not a recent political initiative but the result of a public movement spanning several decades.
He recalled rail roko protests, dharnas, hunger strikes, public meetings, signature campaigns and postcard campaigns undertaken to press the demand.
According to him, people and organisations from different political backgrounds had participated in the movement over the years.
He also recalled campaigns in which thousands of postcards were sent to the Railway Minister and Railway Board Chairman seeking a separate division and improved railway infrastructure.
The campaigns had also raised broader demands, including better railway connectivity between Mangaluru and Bengaluru and Mumbai, doubling of railway lines and improvement of existing railway facilities.
Oscar Fernandes’ role recalled
Mohan also remembered the contribution of former Union minister Oscar Fernandes to the movement.
He said Fernandes had played an important role in preparing a roadmap for a separate Mangaluru Railway Division.
“If Oscar Fernandes had been there, perhaps this would have happened. Everything had been worked out,” Mohan said.
He indicated that the movement had previously reached a stage where the requirements and roadmap for creating a separate division had been examined.
Congress plans digital campaign
Mohan said the nature of public movements had changed significantly with the growth of digital platforms.
He announced that the Congress would use social media extensively to build awareness and mobilise public opinion on the railway division issue.
“We will use the digital power. Instagram and Twitter will be used to create awareness. This is going to be an election issue,” he said.
The announcement signals the Congress’s intention to make the railway reorganisation issue a significant political subject in coastal Karnataka.
Response to Congress’ past record
When asked why the Congress had not created a separate Mangaluru division when it was previously in power, Mohan argued that the railway infrastructure in the region was not sufficiently developed at that time.
He pointed to subsequent developments, including the Hassan-Mangaluru railway line and gauge conversion, which he said had strengthened Mangaluru’s case.
According to Mohan, the expansion of infrastructure and growth in railway connectivity have changed the circumstances and created a stronger basis for demanding an independent division.
Congress promises division if elected in 2029
Mohan made a political commitment that the Congress would establish a separate Mangaluru Railway Division if it returns to power in 2029.
“If they do not do it, the Congress government will come in 2029 under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, and we will create a separate Mangaluru Railway Division,” he declared.
He clarified that his opposition was not directed against Mysuru or its railway administration.
“Mysuru is our own. We are not against Mysuru. But why should something belonging to Mangaluru be given to Mysuru when the people here have been demanding a separate division for decades?” he asked.
Revenue argument behind demand
Mohan also linked the demand to the economic contribution generated by railway operations connected to the region.
He referred to an estimated annual railway revenue of around Rs 1,100 crore and questioned why the region should not have an administrative division corresponding to its economic significance.
He alleged that transferring the administration to Mysuru could result in the coastal region losing potential employment and economic benefits that a dedicated railway division could generate.
However, the revenue figure cited by Mohan was presented as an estimate during the press conference.
Wider concern over loss of institutions
Mohan also brought the railway issue into the context of what he described as a broader pattern of coastal Karnataka losing institutions with strong regional roots.
He referred to historic banks such as Vijaya Bank and Syndicate Bank and criticised their merger, arguing that coastal Karnataka had repeatedly witnessed the disappearance or relocation of institutions that had played an important role in the region’s development.
He said people should recognise the railway reorganisation as an issue connected not merely with administrative boundaries but with the region’s future economic development.
“The people of Mangaluru have to understand this. We will create awareness among them. This is not merely an administrative change; it is a question of the development and economic future of coastal Karnataka,” Mohan said.
Congress leaders attend press conference
Congress district president Harish Kumar, senior vice-president Ponnayya, Chittaranjan, T K Sudheer, Prem, Ramananda Poojary, Yogesh Kumar and Nawaz were among those present at the press conference.
The latest demand comes after the railway administrative reorganisation involving Mangaluru, with the Congress seeking to turn the issue into a wider public and political campaign for an independent Mangaluru Railway Division.