Kerala to approach PM over Railway Board's move to detach Mangaluru from Palakkad division, says CM Satheesan
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has said the State government will take up the Railway Board's decision to transfer the Mangaluru region from the Palakkad division to the South Western Railway's Mysuru division with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Railway Minister. The move, which comes into effect from October 1, has been described by the Chief Minister as a “unilateral decision” that will affect the revenue and development of the Southern Railway and Kerala.
In a post on X on Saturday (August 22, 2026), Mr. Satheesan said: “Unilateral decision by Railway Board to detach Mangaluru Junction from Palakkad Division & merge with South Western Railway is unacceptable. It heavily impacts revenue & development of Southern Railway & Kerala. We will take this up urgently with Prime Minister & Railway Minister.”
A statement from the Chief Minister's Office said the decision was taken without informing the State government or holding any discussions with it. “Detaching the important Mangaluru Junction would significantly reduce the division's revenue and adversely affect its development,” the statement said. It also noted that the merger of the Ullal-Mangaluru section, currently under the Southern Railway, with the South Western Railway would cause substantial losses to both the Southern Railway and Kerala.
The statement said it is the “united demand of Kerala” that the decision be reconsidered. “We will approach the Central government seeking an immediate solution and write to the Prime Minister and the Union Railway Minister. With the support of MPs from the State, we will exert pressure on the Centre to reconsider the decision,” it said.
The bifurcation has also drawn criticism from rail passenger associations. Friends on Rail, a rail passenger association, described the move as a major setback to Kerala's rail development aspirations. The association said the Railway Ministry took the decision without considering the State's long-standing demand for a separate railway zone.
The Palakkad division has already been reduced in geographical extent following the formation of the Salem division. Friends on Rail said the latest transfer of areas to the Mysuru division would further hamper the State's operational and development prospects. The association also warned that the move could lead to the eventual elimination of several low-income stations and adversely affect train services between Mangaluru and Kerala.
The Railway Board's decision is part of a reorganisation that shifts the Mangaluru region from the Southern Railway to the South Western Railway. The Kerala government has not indicated whether it plans any legal or administrative action beyond approaching the Centre. The issue is expected to be raised in the coming days, with State MPs likely to take up the matter in Parliament.
The Palakkad division is one of the six divisions of the Southern Railway and plays a key role in the movement of freight and passengers along Kerala's northern border. The transfer of Mangaluru Junction, a major station on the West Coast line, is expected to affect the division's earnings and operational control. The State government's letter to the Prime Minister is expected to outline these concerns and seek a reversal of the decision.
