Mangaluru railway region merged into South Western Railway; KCCI welcomes, leaders react

The Union Railways Ministry has decided to bring the Mangaluru Railway Region under the South Western Railway (SWR) zone, a move that business and political leaders in Karnataka say will end the region's long-standing administrative fragmentation and improve rail infrastructure.

The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) welcomed the decision, saying it would further integrate the region with the rest of Karnataka. KCCI President P.B. Ahmed Mudassar said the Mangaluru region's railway network had been split across three zones for too long, leading to delays in new trains, service upgrades, and infrastructure spending. He added that the decision would allow local businesses to access newer markets and create a multiplier effect on the regional economy.

Mr. Mudassar thanked Mangaluru MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta for persistently raising the issue in Parliament and with the ministry, and also thanked the Union government for acting on the long-pending demand. He said the KCCI looks forward to working with the new administration.

Karnataka BJP leaders have also hailed the decision. State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra described it as a victory for Coastal Karnataka, saying it ends a decades-long struggle. In a post on X, he criticised leaders in Kerala, including the Chief Minister, for what he called "narrow-minded political statements" and questioned their motives.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R. Ashok, noted that bringing the region under SWR's Mysuru division would streamline decision-making and give greater focus to Mangaluru's railway needs. He appreciated Capt. Chowta for keeping the issue on the agenda.

MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur asked why the state Congress unit had not congratulated Karnataka on the decision. He posted on X that while Kerala leaders are vocal when they protest, Karnataka Congress goes silent when the state benefits.

Other BJP leaders, including MPs Tejaswi Surya and P.C. Mohan, and former minister Pramod Madhwaraj, also welcomed the decision. Mr. Madhwaraj urged the central and state governments not to yield to pressure from Kerala. T.V. Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Manipal Global Education, called on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to stand up for Karnataka's interests, saying "The Tiger of Karnataka should roar loudly against anyone hurting us."

The new arrangement is expected to place all Mangaluru railway lines under SWR's Mysuru division, which covers most of Karnataka. This could lead to better resource allocation and more coherent planning for the region's rail infrastructure. The decision comes after years of demand from passenger groups, civic organisations, and industry bodies in the region, who had pointed out that the fragmented administration led to coordination gaps and delayed projects.