Politics · India Bureau
Kerala to escalate railway division row with Centre, cites economic impact
Chief Minister Pinarayi Satheesan said Kerala will petition the Prime Minister over the Railways' decision to detach Mangaluru from the Palakkad division. The merger with South Western Railway would cause substantial financial losses to both the state and Southern Railway, the CMO stated.
LSN India ·
Kerala's Chief Minister announced plans to formally approach the Prime Minister's office to challenge what the state government terms a unilateral decision by the Indian Railways to reorganise administrative divisions in the region.
The controversy centres on the proposed merger of the Ullal-Mangaluru section, currently managed by Southern Railway, with the South Western Railway jurisdiction. According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office, this administrative shift would result in significant economic consequences for Kerala and operational challenges for the Southern Railway itself.
The move is expected to impact rail connectivity and revenue generation in Kerala, particularly affecting southern districts that would lose direct administrative oversight of key railway corridors. State officials have expressed concern that the reorganisation was implemented without adequate consultation with the state government or consideration of regional implications.
The Chief Minister's decision to escalate the matter to the Prime Minister's office signals Kerala's determination to reverse what it describes as a top-down decision affecting its transport infrastructure and economic interests. The state government has indicated it will present a formal case outlining the financial and operational implications of the proposed administrative change.