World · India Bureau
Kerala Congress leader opposes Railway's Palakkad division reorganisation plan
A senior Congress politician from Kerala has appealed to the central government to shelve proposals to split the Palakkad railway division. The move is seen as detrimental to the region's development and connectivity.
LSN India ·
Ramesh Chennithala, a prominent Congress leader from Kerala, has urged the Ministry of Railways to abandon plans to reorganise the Palakkad railway division, citing concerns over the impact on the region's administrative efficiency and service delivery.
Chennithala's appeal comes as the Railways have been exploring structural changes to divisional boundaries in South India. The proposed division of Palakkad, a major railway hub in Kerala, has drawn criticism from local political leaders across party lines who fear it could disrupt rail operations and delay developmental projects in the area.
The Palakkad railway division handles significant passenger and freight traffic across central Kerala and into neighbouring states. Officials and local representatives have raised concerns that splitting the division could fragment administrative oversight and complicate coordination of railway infrastructure projects, maintenance operations, and service scheduling.
The Congress leader has written to the Railway Ministry requesting a review of the proposal before implementation. He has emphasised the importance of maintaining centralised control over the division to ensure optimal utilisation of resources and uninterrupted connectivity for commuters and cargo operations.
The Railways have not yet responded publicly to the representations made by Kerala's political establishment regarding the restructuring plans.