Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Parties Oppose Railway Board’s Mangaluru-Palakkad Bifurcation
The Railway Board decided to move the Mangaluru region from the Palakkad railway division to the Mysuru division.
This change is scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026.
Political parties in Kerala oppose the decision.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan called it unfair and said the government would ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review it.
Pinarayi Vijayan said Palakkad could lose as much as 60% of its revenue.
He also pointed to the large amount of goods handled at Panambur Goods Yard.
A passenger association said the change could make railway development in Kerala harder.
It warned that some smaller stations and train services could eventually be affected.
The Railway Board will transfer the Mangaluru region from the Palakkad division to the Mysuru division on October 1, 2026.
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan called the decision unilateral and said the State government would raise it with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Pinarayi Vijayan said the Palakkad division could lose up to 60% of its revenue after the transfer.
The Panambur Goods Yard handled goods worth about ₹625 crore in the previous financial year, according to Vijayan.
Friends on Rail warned that the move could hurt Kerala’s railway development, train services and low-income stations.
- Who
- The Railway Board made the decision, while Kerala political leaders and Friends on Rail opposed it.
- What
- The Mangaluru region will be separated from the Palakkad division and merged with the Mysuru division of South Western Railway.
- When
- The change is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026; the report was published on August 23, 2026.
- Where
- The affected railway areas include Mangaluru, Palakkad, Mysuru, Kerala and the Ullal-Mangaluru sector.
- Why
- Opponents say the transfer could reduce Palakkad’s revenue, weaken Kerala’s railway development prospects and affect train services.
- Effective date
- October 1, 2026
- Current arrangement
- The Ullal-Mangaluru sector is currently under Southern Railway and the Palakkad division.
- New arrangement
- The Mangaluru region is to be merged with the Mysuru division of South Western Railway.
- Estimated revenue impact
- Pinarayi Vijayan said Palakkad division revenue could fall by up to 60%.
- Panambur goods handling
- Goods worth around ₹625 crore were handled there during the previous financial year.
- Government response
- V.D. Satheesan said Kerala would take the matter up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Association response
- Friends on Rail called the bifurcation a major setback to Kerala’s railway development aspirations.