INL calls for united fight against move to shift Mangaluru from Palakkad railway division

The Indian National League (INL) has called for a united fight against the Railway Board's decision to remove Mangaluru from Southern Railway's Palakkad division and transfer it to South Western Railway's Mysuru division. This move, set to take effect from October 1, 2026, could have significant consequences for railway development in Kerala.

INL State President Ahammad Devarkovil and General Secretary Kasim Irikkoor emphasized that this change would come at a time when people in Kerala are increasingly reliant on the railways. The Mangaluru region, including Ullal and Panambur, plays a crucial role in the Palakkad division, accounting for nearly 75% of the division's freight traffic.

Devarkovil and Irikkoor noted that Kerala had already lost several profitable routes when the Salem division was formed in 2007. The INL leaders termed the decision to shift Mangaluru from Palakkad division as the latest instance of Indian Railways' neglect of Kerala. They stressed the importance of this region for Keralam residents who frequently travel to Mangaluru for medical treatment, education, and business.

The proposed move has raised concerns about the future of essential train services connecting Kerala with Mangaluru. The INL leaders urged all ministers and MPs from Kerala to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to discuss the implications of this decision. They also called on Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to take the lead, given his purported good relationship with the Union government.