Palakkad, 22 August (H.S.):The Railway Board has decided to transfer the Mangaluru railway area from Southern Railway's Palakkad division to the Mysuru division of South Western Railway, a move likely to weaken Palakkad's operational and financial importance.

The jurisdictional change will take effect on October 1, 2026. Under the revised arrangement, the Mangaluru region up to and including Ullal will come under the Mysuru division. The interchange point between Southern Railway and South Western Railway will consequently shift from Padil to Ullal.

Thokur station will remain under the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited and serve as the interchange point between Konkan Railway and South Western Railway.

The transfer covers key railway assets in Mangaluru and its port region. Mangaluru Central, Mangaluru Junction and Panambur, an important station handling container and freight traffic from the port, will leave Palakkad division's control.

Congress MP M K Raghavan strongly opposed the decision, describing it as unjust and a serious setback to railway development in Malabar. He urged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Railway Board chairman to withdraw the order.

Raghavan said the loss of passenger and freight revenue from the Mangaluru region would erode the financial strength of Palakkad division. He warned that this could affect the sanctioning of new trains and railway development projects across Malabar.

The Railway Board also detailed procedures for transferring employees. Non-gazetted posts and staff will move on an as is where is basis, though employees may choose to remain with Southern Railway or join South Western Railway. Those moving will be transferred on administrative grounds, with seniority fixed according to service in their present grade.

Separate orders will be issued for gazetted officers, while Group-B transfers will follow existing rules. Preparatory work, including staff options, transfer of posts and relocation of control boards, must be completed before October 1.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman