Palakkad Railway Division loses Mangaluru; new changes to take effect from October 1

PALAKKAD: In a setback to railway development in Kerala, the Palakkad Railway Division has been reduced further, with Mangaluru and nearby areas in Karnataka being moved out of its jurisdiction. Mangaluru will now become part of the Mysuru Railway Division.

The Railway Board has issued a gazette notification on the change, which will come into effect from October 1.

The Palakkad Division was earlier reduced in 2007, when the Coimbatore section was transferred to the newly created Salem Division.

The reduction in the division's geographical area and number of railway lines is expected to affect the funds allocated for development projects from the Union Budget. It could also lead to a reduction in development projects in the division.

Palakkad was earlier notable for being a railway division spread across three states and received consideration because of its large geographical area. Its jurisdiction in the Coimbatore region had already been reduced to the railway line towards Pollachi. It will now extend only up to Ullal, around 35 km from Kasaragod, on the Kerala side of the Netravati River. Thiruvananthapuram is the only other railway division in Kerala.

Mangaluru will now come under the South Western Railway zone. The decision was taken based on the view of people's representatives and Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna that bringing the railway stations in Karnataka under one division would be beneficial for development.

There will be no change in the jurisdiction of Konkan Railway. It will continue to begin from Thokur station near Mangaluru.

The existing boundaries will now become the boundaries between Konkan Railway and South Western Railway. The divisional and zonal boundaries between Southern Railway and South Western Railway will be specified separately in a subsequent gazette notification.

Transfer orders to be issued later

• Transfer orders for gazetted officers as part of the staff reorganisation and zonal changes will be issued later.
• For Group B officers, action will be taken according to the existing rules.
• Non-gazetted employees and their posts will be transferred in their existing positions.
• Employees will have the option to remain with Southern Railway or move to South Western Railway.
• Their seniority will be determined based on their length of service in their existing grade.