Kerala MPs Oppose Railway Division Restructuring, Demand Review
Kodikunnil Suresh, Member of Parliament, has expressed strong opposition to the planned restructuring of the Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram railway divisions, warning that the changes could harm Kerala's long-term railway development.
Mr. Suresh, who is also a member of the Indian Railway Consultative Committee, contacted Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw by phone to convey his dissatisfaction. He noted that shifting regions such as Mangaluru, currently under the Palakkad division, to the Mysuru division would be a setback for the state. Pointing out that orders for the division of Palakkad have already been issued, he asked the ministry to urgently review and revoke the directive.
If revoking the decision is not possible, Mr. Suresh demanded a proportionate developmental package for the Palakkad division to compensate for any losses. He also called for immediate measures to upgrade Kasaragod railway station into a major terminus.
The MP further raised objections to reports of a new railway division being planned with headquarters in Tirunelveli, which would involve carving out areas from the Thiruvananthapuram division. Observing that the Thiruvananthapuram division is vital to the railway infrastructure of southern Kerala, he said any partition of the division is unacceptable and warned against steps that would weaken its role. Instead, he urged the ministry to focus on expanding the state's overall rail network, expediting ongoing projects, and providing rail connectivity to the Vizhinjam International Seaport at the earliest.
The Palakkad division, one of the oldest in the Southern Railway, oversees lines that connect Kerala with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Mangaluru region, including the port city, is operationally linked to this division. The proposed transfer to Mysuru is seen by the MPs as a dilution of Kerala's influence over key routes. Similarly, the Thiruvananthapuram division manages tracks in the southern part of the state, including those leading to Kanyakumari. A new division at Tirunelveli would reduce its territorial coverage and, according to Mr. Suresh, weaken its operational capacity.
Echoing these concerns, Kerala Congress working chairperson and former Union Minister P.C. Thomas criticised the Union government's move. He demanded that instead of reorganising existing divisions, the Centre should establish a dedicated railway zone centred in Kerala. Responding to the proposed changes affecting both Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram divisions, Mr. Thomas pointed out that Kerala is one of the highest railway-utilising states in the country and therefore deserves expanded infrastructure. He added that reorganisation of divisions might only be justified if accompanied by the creation of an exclusive rail zone for the state, warning that otherwise the moves would be seen as neglect of Kerala's interests.
The demand for a separate railway zone for Kerala has been raised by various leaders over the years, citing the state's substantial passenger traffic and revenue contribution to the railways. The current restructuring proposals have rekindled these demands, with leaders across the political spectrum asking the ministry to consider Kerala's unique geographical and operational needs.
Both leaders have called on the Railway Ministry to reconsider its decisions and engage in dialogue with elected representatives from the state. They have emphasised that any reorganisation should prioritise the expansion and modernisation of Kerala's rail infrastructure, rather than diminishing its existing capacities.
