Railway board’s decision on Palakkad Division Split is unilateral, says CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V D Satheesan has criticized the railway board’s decision to transfer parts of the Palakkad Railway Division, including Mangaluru station, to the Mysuru Division, calling it unilateral. He said the exclusion of the important Mangaluru Junction would significantly reduce the revenue of the Palakkad Division and adversely affect its development. He termed the railway ministry’s decision highly objectionable.

The merger of the area from Ullal to Mangaluru, which is currently part of Southern Railway, with South Western Railway would cause major losses to both Southern Railway and Kerala, the chief minister said. He also pointed that the decision to split the Palakkad Division was taken without informing the state government or holding any discussions with it. Satheesan said the united demand of Kerala is that the decision be reconsidered.

He said the state government would approach the central government seeking an immediate solution to the issue. Letters would be sent to the Prime Minister and the Union Railway Minister. With the cooperation of the state’s MPs, the government would put pressure on the Centre to reconsider the decision, he said.