Mangaluru railway region to move from Palakkad to Mysuru from October 1

The Railway Board has ordered the transfer of the Mangaluru railway area, including Mangaluru Central station, from the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway to the Mysuru Division of South Western Railway.

The change will take effect from October 1, 2026.

The transfer will cover the railway area up to and including Ullal. As a result, the interchange point between Southern Railway and South Western Railway will shift from Padil to Ullal.

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

Long-standing demand in Karnataka

The move fulfils a demand that has been raised since the formation of South Western Railway in 2003.

Supporters of the transfer have argued that bringing Mangaluru's railway administration under one railway zone would reduce jurisdictional complications and make it easier to address operational and infrastructure issues.

Mangaluru MP Brijesh Chowta welcomed the Railway Board's decision, saying he had raised the demand with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and through parliamentary forums since becoming an MP in 2024.

He said the move could improve coordination and allow passenger concerns and infrastructure requirements in coastal Karnataka to be addressed more efficiently.

What changes from October 1

The Railway Board has directed Southern Railway and South Western Railway to begin preparations for the administrative transfer.

These preparations include transferring posts, seeking options from staff and shifting control boards.

The administrative change will also alter the railway jurisdiction over Mangaluru and surrounding areas, with the region becoming part of the Mysuru Division under South Western Railway.

Why Kerala is concerned

The decision has triggered concern in Kerala because Mangaluru and surrounding areas have so far been part of the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway.

Critics of the move argue that removing Mangaluru from Palakkad could reduce the division's revenue base and affect its future development priorities.

Abdulrahiman Vallikkunnu, a member of the Divisional Railway Users' Consultative Committee, has called for the decision to transfer Mangaluru to Mysuru to be reconsidered.

The development has also renewed discussion around Kerala's long-standing demand for greater railway administrative representation and a separate railway zone.

Karnataka welcomes the move

Railway user groups and representatives in Dakshina Kannada have welcomed the transfer.

Supporters argue that Mangaluru has generated substantial railway revenue while remaining administratively divided between different railway systems.

They believe bringing the region under South Western Railway could make decision-making more streamlined and strengthen the case for infrastructure and connectivity projects in coastal Karnataka.

Analysis

The decision is primarily an administrative reorganisation of railway jurisdiction rather than the creation of a new railway zone.

For Mangaluru, the key argument in favour of the move is administrative consolidation. The region has had railway connections and responsibilities spread across Southern Railway and South Western Railway, while Thokur remains under Konkan Railway.

For Palakkad Division, however, the transfer means losing a significant part of its territory and the associated railway activity and revenue. This explains the concern in Kerala that the move could affect the division's financial and developmental position.

The decision also reflects a long-running Karnataka demand to place Mangaluru's railway administration under South Western Railway. Its implementation from October 1 will determine whether the expected benefits in coordination, infrastructure planning and passenger services materialise.