Coimbatore: A demand has been raised to transfer the Pollachi-Kinathukadavu railway section out of the Palakkad Railway Division, following the recent move to shift Mangaluru Junction to the Mysuru Division.

Pollachi MP K Eswarasamy has submitted a representation to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking the transfer of the railway section between Kinathukadavu and Pollachi station to the Madurai Division.

If the demand is accepted, the Palakkad Division could shrink further. The division could also face a significant fall in revenue from passenger fares and freight movement.

On the Coimbatore-Pollachi route, the railway line up to Kinathukadavu station falls under the Salem Division.

The section from Kinathukadavu to Pollachi station is currently part of the Palakkad Division, while the railway network beyond Pollachi station comes under the Madurai Division.

If the Kinathukadavu-Pollachi section is transferred to the Madurai Division, the Palakkad Division would be left with only the stretch from Madukkarai to Mangaluru Junction.

The move could also trigger a demand to transfer the railway section beyond Meenakshipuram up to Pollachi to the Madurai Division.

There has been a long-standing demand to bring the Pollachi region under the Madurai Division, as the area is considered a gateway to Tamil Nadu's southern districts.

Railway passengers' associations and other groups have submitted several representations over the years seeking the transfer.

Against the backdrop of the decision to shift Mangaluru Junction to the Mysuru Division, Pollachi MP K Eswarasamy renewed the demand in a representation submitted to the Union Railway Minister on August 27.