Kerala to lose financially crucial Mangaluru region; Palakkad division bifurcation all but confirmed

NEW DELHI: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s words signalled no change in the decision to detach the Mangaluru region from the Palakkad Railway Division and merge it with the Mysuru Division. Following a meeting with UDF MPs, the Minister clarified on X that the move was driven by operational requirements and aimed at resolving existing issues. The MPs reported that the Minister made it clear the decision could not be withdrawn or put on hold.

Union Railway Minister also agreed to hold a separate discussion with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.

Nine UDF MPs had met the Minister on Monday to demand that the bifurcation of the Palakkad Division be put on hold. They informed the Minister that no consultations had hitherto been held with the MPs from Kerala or the state government. Lok Sabha Chief Whip Kodikunnil Suresh and Palakkad MP V.K. Sreekandan said they received an assurance that a discussion would be held with the Chief Minister before the changes come into effect on October 1.

MPs E.T. Mohammed Basheer, M.K. Raghavan, Rajmohan Unnithan, Shafi Parambil, Jebi Mather, K. Francis George, and Adoor Prakash also participated in the meeting.

The MPs pointed out that the Mangaluru region is financially crucial for the Palakkad Division and that detaching it would impact the division's revenue and future development. They demanded that Union Minister Suresh Gopi and BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar clarify their stance on the matter. From October 1st, the jurisdiction of the Palakkad Division will be restricted only up to Ullal.