The Railway Board has decided to transfer the Mangaluru area from the Palakkad division of Southern Railway to the Mysuru division of South Western Railway, a move that is set to significantly reduce the operational and financial importance of the Palakkad division.

The jurisdictional change will come into effect from October 1, 2026, according to an order issued by the Railway Board.

Under the new arrangement, the Mangaluru area up to Ullal, including Ullal, will be transferred from Palakkad division to Mysuru division. The interchange point between Southern Railway and South Western Railway will consequently shift from Padil to Ullal.

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

The transfer will take away from Palakkad division a strategically important stretch that includes Mangaluru and the railway infrastructure serving the Mangaluru port region. Panambur, an important station for transporting containers from the port, will also come under the Mysuru division.

The move is expected to reduce the revenue and operational significance of the Palakkad division, which currently handles the Mangaluru area and its associated passenger and freight operations.

Congress MP M K Raghavan echoed these concerns. Strongly opposing the Railway Board's decision, he described it as unjust and a major setback to railway development in Malabar.

Raghavan, in a Facebook post, urged Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Chairman of the Railway Board to immediately withdraw the order. The MP argued that the transfer of the Mangaluru area would deprive Palakkad division of revenue from Mangaluru Central, Mangaluru Junction and freight operations connected to the Mangaluru port.

He also warned that the reduction in the division's financial strength could affect the introduction of new trains and other railway development projects in Malabar.

The order also lays down the procedure for transferring railway staff affected by the jurisdictional change. Posts and non-gazetted staff will be transferred on an "as is where is basis, while employees will be given the option to remain with Southern Railway or move to South Western Railway. Staff opting to move to South Western Railway will be transferred on administrative grounds, with seniority determined based on their length of service in the present grade.

For gazetted officers, necessary transfer orders along with posts will be issued separately, while transfers of Group-B officers will be handled according to existing rules. Preparatory measures, including the transfer of posts, obtaining staff options and shifting control boards, are to be completed before the jurisdictional changes take effect on October 1.