Mangaluru: The long-standing demand to bring Mangaluru’s railway administration under Karnataka has gained significant momentum after the Centre issued a Gazette notification transferring the Mangaluru railway area from the Palakkad division of Southern Railway to the Mysuru division of South Western Railway (SWR).
The notification was issued on August 21 and revises the jurisdictional boundaries of the Mysuru division, Konkan Railway and Palakkad division. The changes will come into effect from October 1.
The decision has been welcomed in Karnataka as a major administrative change that could bring railway operations and infrastructure-related decisions concerning Mangaluru closer to the region. However, the move has triggered strong political opposition in Kerala, with leaders demanding that the Centre reconsider the decision.
Railway boundary to shift from Padil to Ullal
Under the existing arrangement, the divisional and zonal boundary between the Mysuru and Palakkad divisions is fixed at kilometre 872.900 on the Shoranur Junction–Mangaluru Central section.
As per the revised arrangement, the boundary between the two divisions will be shifted from Padil to Ullal.
The Gazette notification also changes the existing jurisdictional arrangements involving Konkan Railway. The boundary between Konkan Railway and Southern Railway will become the boundary between Konkan Railway and South Western Railway.
Similarly, the existing boundary near Thokur between the Palakkad division and Konkan Railway will become the boundary between Konkan Railway and the Mysuru division of SWR.
The changes are being implemented citing operational requirements and will formally come into effect from October 1.
Kerala opposes the Centre’s decision
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Kerala leaders, who have described the move as unilateral.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the state government was not informed about the decision and that no discussions were held before the jurisdictional changes were announced.
He termed the decision unacceptable and said its reconsideration was a united demand from Kerala.
Satheesan argued that excluding strategically important railway areas in Mangaluru would substantially reduce the revenue of the Palakkad division and affect its future development.
He also said the transfer of the railway area from Ullal to Mangaluru, currently under Southern Railway, to South Western Railway would result in a significant loss for Southern Railway and Kerala.
The Chief Minister said the state would approach the Centre seeking an urgent solution. He also said letters would be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Railway Minister, while Kerala MPs would be involved in efforts to persuade the Centre to reconsider the decision.
Kasaragod MP raises concerns
Senior Congress leader and Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan also criticised the move, describing it as another instance of what he called the Railways’ neglect of Kerala, particularly the Malabar region.
Unnithan alleged that the decision reflected a continuing “stepmotherly attitude” towards Kerala and said it would not be accepted.
He warned that losing the Mangaluru region, including the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), which he described as an important revenue source for the Palakkad division, could weaken the division financially.
He further expressed concern that the reduction in revenue could eventually make the Palakkad division vulnerable to a merger with another railway division.
Unnithan said he had written to the Union Railway Minister and senior Railway officials seeking intervention and withdrawal of the decision.
Palakkad MP threatens protests
Palakkad MP V K Sreekandan also objected to the jurisdictional change, alleging that the division was being split without informing Kerala’s MPs or the state government.
He accused the Centre of attempting to weaken the Palakkad division by reducing its revenue and funding.
Sreekandan claimed that Palakkad is among the highest-revenue railway divisions in South India and questioned the decision to alter its jurisdiction without consultation or a detailed explanation.
He said protests would be held both inside and outside Parliament against the move.
Sreekandan also warned that the transfer could affect the operation of long-distance trains from Palakkad and have wider implications for railway development in Kerala.
Mangaluru welcomes jurisdictional change
While the decision has triggered political opposition in Kerala, railway users and representatives in Mangaluru have welcomed the move.
Hanumanth Kamath, former member of the Palakkad Division Railway Users’ Consultative Committee, said the transfer addressed a long-standing concern among people in the region.
He claimed that Mangaluru had contributed significantly to the revenue of the Palakkad division and argued that railway-generated resources from Karnataka should be used for the development of the state.
Kamath said the region had faced difficulties in securing railway development and described the Centre’s decision as a major victory.
Other railway users in Mangaluru have also questioned the objections raised in Kerala, pointing out that Mangaluru is located in Karnataka and arguing that its railway administration should be aligned with the state.
Some said the Palakkad division had not undertaken sufficient development work at Mangaluru Junction and welcomed the Railway Board’s decision.
Officials to discuss assets and staff
The jurisdictional change will involve more than simply altering administrative boundaries. Railway assets, staff arrangements and other operational matters will also have to be addressed as the transfer takes effect.
Senior officials from the Mysuru division are expected to visit the Palakkad divisional office after Onam to discuss the transition.
The discussions are expected to cover railway assets as well as the continuation or transfer of staff connected with the areas coming under the revised jurisdiction.
The administrative transition will therefore require coordination between the existing Southern Railway structure and the South Western Railway authorities.
Chowta calls notification historically significant
Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta described the Gazette notification as “historically significant”.
According to Chowta, the move will make Mysuru the single administrative centre for railway operations, infrastructure and services concerning the region.
He said the change would remove the earlier administrative confusion and make it easier to pursue infrastructure and service-related requirements.
Chowta also expressed the expectation that the new arrangement could increase opportunities for local people through railway-related contracts and outsourcing activities.
His remarks reflect the expectation in Karnataka that bringing the railway jurisdiction closer to the state’s administrative framework could improve coordination and strengthen the region’s ability to seek infrastructure projects.
U T Khader welcomes decision
Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader also welcomed the move, describing it as the fulfilment of a long-standing demand.
Khader said the decision would benefit the development of Mangaluru, the coastal region and Karnataka as a whole.
He congratulated Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Capt Brijesh Chowta for their roles in the process.
The jurisdictional shift is now set to enter a new phase, with October 1 being the key date for implementation.
While Karnataka leaders and railway users see the move as an opportunity to strengthen Mangaluru’s railway administration and development, Kerala leaders have vowed to challenge the decision before the Centre.
The coming weeks are therefore likely to see discussions over staff, assets, railway operations and infrastructure, alongside continued political debate over the impact of the revised boundaries.