Mangaluru Area to Move to Mysuru

Under the Railway Board's decision, the Mangaluru area, including the jurisdiction up to Ullal, will be shifted from the Palakkad division of Southern Railway to the Mysuru division of South Western Railway.

The change is scheduled to take effect from October 1. Kerala political leaders and employee organisations fear that the move could significantly weaken Palakkad's operational and financial position.

DYFI Protest at DRM Office

DYFI activists marched towards the Palakkad DRM office at around 8 a.m. on Monday.

Police and RPF personnel stopped the protesters at the main gate. Some activists then climbed over the compound wall and reached the main entrance of the office building. More protesters later broke through the police blockade and entered the compound.

Protesters Detained

Police detained and removed several protesters as the demonstration escalated.

DYFI leaders said their agitation would continue until the decision to alter the Palakkad division is withdrawn.

Youth Congress Joins Opposition

The Youth Congress also organised a separate protest against the railway reorganisation.

Opposition parties argue that transferring Mangaluru to Mysuru would weaken the Palakkad division and hurt Kerala's railway interests.

Political Opposition in Kerala

The Railway Board's decision has generated criticism across Kerala's political spectrum.

Kerala Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan has described the decision as unacceptable, while CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has urged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to withdraw the transfer completely.

MPs Plan Satyagraha

UDF MPs M.K. Raghavan, E.T. Mohammed Basheer and Shafi Parambil have announced a satyagraha outside the Palakkad DRM office on August 26.

They have demanded that the order be put on hold and that the Centre consult the Kerala government and elected representatives before proceeding.

Concerns Over Revenue Loss

Kerala leaders argue that the Mangaluru area is important to Palakkad's freight operations and overall revenue.

CPI(M) MP John Brittas has estimated that the transfer could reduce Palakkad division's revenue by about half, potentially resulting in an annual loss of around ₹1,000 crore. This is a political estimate, however, and the final financial impact would need to be assessed by the Railways.

Dispute Over Railway Minister's Knowledge

Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Kerala MPs that he had not been aware of the Railway Board's decision beforehand.

According to Unnithan, the minister said he would re-examine the decision. Kerala MPs, however, have questioned how such a major Railway Board decision could have been taken without the minister's knowledge.

Railway Reorganisation Rationale

The transfer has been presented as part of an administrative reorganisation of railway jurisdictions.

Supporters of the change argue that placing Mangaluru under the Mysuru division could improve operational coordination and align the region more closely with Karnataka's wider railway network.

Why Is the Move Controversial?

The opposition in Kerala centres on three major concerns:

  • Possible loss of revenue for the Palakkad division

  • Potential impact on train operations and station development

  • Allegations that Kerala's government and elected representatives were not consulted

The counterargument is that the reorganisation is intended to improve administrative efficiency and geographical coordination within the railway network.

Conclusion

The Railway Board's decision to transfer the Mangaluru area to the Mysuru division has triggered escalating protests across Kerala.

DYFI and Youth Congress activists demonstrated outside the Palakkad DRM office, with some DYFI protesters entering the compound after climbing the boundary wall. Several protesters were detained. Meanwhile, Kerala MPs are preparing further protests, including a satyagraha.

With the reorganisation scheduled to take effect on October 1, the key question is whether the Centre will reconsider the decision or whether protests in Kerala will intensify further.