Mysuru: Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna on Saturday criticised the Karnataka government over its response to the Railway Board’s decision to transfer the Mangaluru railway area from the Palakkad division of Southern Railway to the Mysuru division of South Western Railway from October 1.

The Railway Board’s August 21 notification revised the jurisdictional boundaries of the Mysuru, Palakkad and Konkan Railway systems. Under the order, the Mangaluru area up to and including Ullal will come under the Mysuru division of South Western Railway from October 1. The interchange point between Mysuru division and Palakkad division will consequently shift from Padil to Ullal.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Somanna alleged that the State government had failed to acknowledge the Centre’s decision and attributed its response to political considerations involving Kerala. His remarks come amid continuing political discussion in Karnataka and Kerala over the administrative reorganisation of the Mangaluru railway area.

Somanna questions State government’s response

Somanna criticised the Congress-led Karnataka government’s response to the Railway Board’s decision, alleging that it had not adequately acknowledged the Centre’s move.

He claimed that political considerations involving Kerala were influencing the State government’s response. These were Somanna’s allegations, and the Railway Board’s notification itself cites operational requirements as the basis for the jurisdictional changes.

The decision has significance for the railway administration of coastal Karnataka. From October 1, the Mangaluru area up to Ullal will be administered by the Mysuru division of South Western Railway instead of the Palakkad division of Southern Railway.

The transfer has also generated debate in Kerala. Kerala Opposition leader V D Satheesan had earlier urged the Centre to reconsider the decision, citing the importance of the Mangaluru region to the Palakkad division’s revenue and operations.

Mangaluru railway jurisdiction changes from October 1

According to the Railway Board notification, the new boundary between the Mysuru division of South Western Railway and the Palakkad division of Southern Railway will be at kilometre 872.900 on the Shoranur Junction-Mangaluru Central section.

The interchange point between the two divisions will move from Padil to Ullal.

The notification also states that the existing interchange point between Palakkad division and Konkan Railway at Thokur will become the interchange point between Konkan Railway and Mysuru division of South Western Railway. Thokur station itself will continue under Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd.

Preparations for the jurisdictional change have already begun. Officials from the Palakkad and Mysuru divisions held a coordination meeting earlier this month to facilitate a smooth transition without affecting train operations.

Criticism of Mangaluru Cabinet meeting

Somanna also criticised the Karnataka Cabinet’s first meeting in Mangaluru, describing it as an exercise that lacked substance.

He accused the Congress government of making promises without adequate financial backing and alleged that Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and other leaders were making announcements without corresponding action.

Somanna also accused the Congress of pursuing vote-bank politics.

These remarks form part of his political criticism of the State government and its handling of the Mangaluru Cabinet meeting. The allegations were made by Somanna and are not independently established facts.

The Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru had been held as a special State Cabinet meeting, with several decisions concerning the coastal region discussed and announced by the State government.

Somanna inaugurates National Rozgar Mela

Somanna was in Mysuru on Saturday for the 20th National Rozgar Mela, where he handed over appointment letters to newly recruited candidates.

The nationwide programme was conducted simultaneously at 45 locations, with more than 51,000 appointment letters being distributed to newly appointed youth in various Union government departments and organisations. The Prime Minister’s Office said the latest tranche would take the cumulative number of appointment letters distributed through the Rozgar Mela programme to about 12.75 lakh.

The Mysuru programme was held at the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Naimisham Campus. The Union Minister formally distributed appointment letters to newly selected candidates, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the recruits through video conference.

Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, AIISH Director Pushpavathi and CGST Commissioner Ravindra Radha were among those present at the programme.

Focus on employment opportunities

Speaking at the Rozgar Mela, Somanna highlighted the Centre’s employment-related initiatives and said the programme reflected its focus on creating opportunities for young people.

The newly recruited candidates include employees joining various Central government departments, including the Railways, Revenue, Home Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, Financial Services and Defence.

The Mysuru event combined Somanna’s comments on the railway jurisdiction issue with the national employment programme, bringing the Mangaluru railway transfer back into the political discussion in Karnataka.

With the Railway Board’s order scheduled to take effect on October 1, the administrative transition of the Mangaluru railway area to the Mysuru division is now moving towards implementation. The change will also shift the operational interchange point between the Mysuru and Palakkad divisions from Padil to Ullal.