Mangaluru railway jurisdiction row: Kerala CM V D Satheesan opposes shift to Mysuru division
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala chief minister V D Satheesan has strongly opposed the Railway Board’s decision to bring the Mangaluru railway area under the Mysuru division of South Western Railway (SWR) from October 1, calling for an immediate review of the move.
At present, railway lines in and around Mangaluru come under both SWR and Southern Railway (SR). Satheesan said the decision to shift key areas, including Mangaluru Junction, from the Palakkad division to the Mysuru division should be reconsidered by the Centre.
The issue came to the fore after Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta shared a Railway Board communication on X, stating that the Mangaluru railway area would come under the Mysuru division from October 1. The communication was addressed to the general managers of SWR and SR as well as the chairman and managing director of Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL)
Satheesan alleged that the Kerala government was not consulted before the decision was taken and that the move was made unilaterally without informing the state.
He said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking an immediate review of the decision. The Kerala government would also initiate discussions with the Centre on the issue, he said.
“Reconsideration of this decision is Kerala’s united demand. With the cooperation of all MPs from the state, pressure will be put on the Centre,” Satheesan said.
The chief minister also highlighted the financial implications for the Palakkad division, saying Mangaluru Junction is one of its key revenue-generating stations. Its removal from the division could lead to a significant decline in revenue and potentially affect future development projects, he said.
Meanwhile, there is also a proposal to bring the Ullal-Mangaluru stretch, currently under Southern Railway, under SWR. Satheesan said such a move could result in financial losses for both Southern Railway and Kerala.
The Kerala government is expected to seek further discussions with the Centre and Railway authorities over the proposed changes in railway jurisdiction.
