Political parties cutting across party lines oppose the Railway Board’s decision to bifurcate the Mangaluru region from the Palakkad division.

Political Parties in Kerala Unite Against Railway Board’s Mangaluru Transfer

Political parties across the spectrum in Kerala have come together to oppose the Railway Board’s decision to bifurcate the Mangaluru region from the Palakkad division of the Southern Railway and merge it with the Mysuru division of the South Western Railway. The change is scheduled to take effect from October 1, and critics argue it will severely undermine the operational and financial health of the Palakkad division, a key railway hub for the state.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has announced that the state government will take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing the Railway Board’s decision as “unilateral and unacceptable.” In a statement, the Chief Minister’s Office said the merger of the Ullal-Mangaluru sector with the South Western Railway would cause substantial revenue losses to both the Southern Railway and the state, and that the decision was made without informing the Kerala government.

Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan echoed these concerns, stating that the bifurcation could reduce the Palakkad division’s revenue by up to 60 per cent. He pointed out that goods worth around ₹625 crore were handled through the Panambur Goods Yard in the previous financial year, and that the division would lose this revenue following the transfer. He also warned that trains originating from Mangaluru, including services to Thiruvananthapuram, would come under the Mysuru division, potentially leaving the Palakkad division without a single train originating from within its jurisdiction. Vijayan urged the state government and MPs from Kerala to exert immediate pressure on the Union government to review the decision.

UDF MPs Announce Protest

United Democratic Front (UDF) MPs from Kerala have escalated their response, targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Railway Board’s move. Congress MP from Kozhikode, M.K. Raghavan, and Indian Union Muslim League MP from Malappuram, E.T. Mohammed Basheer, addressed the media in Kozhikode on Sunday (August 23, 2026) and demanded clarity from BJP leaders from the state.

“The BJP leaders, especially Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, who is also an elected MP from Keralam, need to clarify if they are with the people or not,” Raghavan said. Both MPs alleged that the BJP’s “regional interests” in Karnataka could have played a major role in the decision. They specifically pointed to Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, saying he has political interests in the issue. Raghavan also recalled that some people in Mangaluru had earlier opposed attempts to extend the KSR Bengaluru-Kannur Express via Mangaluru to Kozhikode.

The UDF MPs announced that they will stage a fast outside the office of the Divisional Railway Manager, Southern Railway, at Palakkad on August 26, which falls on Thiruvonam Day, in protest against the move. The decision was made at an online meeting of MPs on the night of August 22.

Raghavan claimed that senior railway officials in the Palakkad division, MPs from the state, and the state government were kept in the dark about the transfer. Citing unnamed officials, he said the Palakkad division could incur a revenue loss of up to ₹1,100 crore due to the loss of the Mangaluru port, a major financial source for its operations. Additionally, the division would lose the only terminal station with a stabling line and a pit line, and around 16 train services originating from Mangaluru, including the Chennai Mail and the Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express. Reservation facilities and emergency quota ticket availability would drop drastically, he added.

Basheer noted that the Palakkad division had already been bifurcated in 2007 to create the Salem division, and that the latest decision would further cripple the division, affecting funds allotment and new projects, making it economically unfeasible. The UDF MPs plan to seek a White Paper in Parliament on the impact of the decision on revenue, staff, and services. They also highlighted that 90% of railway staff in Mangaluru are from Kerala and their concerns should be addressed. A meeting of railway staff, trade unions, trade bodies, and passenger associations is likely to be held in the coming days.

INL Calls for United Campaign

The Indian National League (INL) also issued a strong statement on Sunday (August 23, 2026), calling on the state government and all MPs from Kerala to join hands and fight the Railway Board’s decision. INL State president Ahammad Devarkovil and general secretary Kasim Irikkoor said the move came at a time when people in Kerala were increasingly dependent on railways. They described the changes as having “serious implications” for railway development in the state.

The INL leaders highlighted that the Mangaluru region, including Ullal and Panambur, is crucial to the Palakkad division, with nearly 75% of freight traffic in the division originating from the area. They also noted that Kerala had already lost several profitable routes under the Palakkad division when the Salem division was formed in 2007. The leaders termed the decision the latest example of Indian Railways’ long-standing neglect of Kerala.

“Mangaluru is particularly important for people from Keralam who regularly travel there for medical treatment, education and business. The proposed move has therefore raised concerns about the future of important train services connecting Keralam with Mangaluru,” the statement said.

The INL leaders called for a united campaign to protect the interests of the state and urged political parties not to attempt to gain political mileage or undermine the collective effort. They said all Ministers and MPs from Kerala should meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to explain the consequences of the move, and that Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan should lead the effort, given his claim of having a healthy relationship with the Union government.

Passenger Association Voices Concern

The rail passenger association Friends on Rail termed the bifurcation a major setback to Kerala’s railway development aspirations. The association said the Railway Ministry had taken the decision without considering Kerala’s long-standing demand for a separate railway zone. It noted that the formation of the Salem division had already significantly reduced the geographical extent of the Palakkad division, and the latest move would further hamper Kerala’s operational and development prospects. Friends on Rail also warned that the move could eventually lead to the closure of several low-income stations and adversely affect train services between Mangaluru and Kerala.