‘Palakkad division was split to appease Karnataka BJP,’ says V K Sreekandan 

PALAKKAD: V K Sreekandan MP stepped forward strongly criticizing the move to split the Palakkad Railway Division. He blamed that the midnight decision, taken without informing the Kerala government or the state, was aimed at appeasing the BJP in Karnataka. Sreekandan said the move was a blatant violation of the assurance given by the railway minister to Kerala that the division would not be split.

Sreekandan also alleged that by removing Mangaluru from the Palakkad Division, the central government intended to reduce its revenue and funding and thereby completely weaken the division. He clarified that strong protests would be staged both inside and outside the Parliament against what he termed an anti-people move by the railways.

The division of the Palakkad Railway Division is a setback to railway development in Kerala. The division, which previously extended up to Mangaluru in Karnataka, has now been reduced to areas only up to beyond Kasaragod. Mangaluru has been brought under the Mysuru Railway Division. The Railway Board has issued a notification regarding the change, which will come into effect from October 1. The Palakkad Division was also divided in 2007, when the Coimbatore section was incorporated into the newly formed Salem Division.

The reduction in the geographical area and number of railway lines under the division will also lead to a reduction in the funds allocated to it in the Union Budget. This could result in the loss of development projects. Palakkad had the distinction of being a division spread across three states and had received special consideration because of this.

Earlier, its jurisdiction in the Coimbatore region had already been reduced to the railway line leading towards Pollachi. Now, the division has been further reduced to Ullal, located about 35 kilometres from Kasaragod, on this side of the Netravati River. Thiruvananthapuram and Madurai are the other railway divisions associated with Kerala.

Mangaluru will now be transferred to the south western railway zone. The decision was reportedly taken in line with the preference of elected representatives and Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna, who felt that bringing the Karnataka stations under a single division would be beneficial for development.