Railway staff upset over bifurcation of Palakkad division
Almost 90% of the staff working in Mangaluru Central, Mangaluru Junction and Panambur stations are from Keralam, say functionaries of the Southern Railway Employees’ Sangh
A faction of Palakkad division railway staff is dissatisfied with the railway board's decision to separate the Mangaluru area from their division and integrate it into the Mysuru division of the South Western Railway. This change is set to take effect on October 1. The Southern Railway Employees' Sangh (SRES), an affiliate of Congress-aligned Indian National Trade Union Congress, claims that around 90% of the staff at Mangaluru Central, Mangaluru Junction, and Panambur stations hail from Kerala.
SRES president C. Janeesh and secretary K.P. Shynesh Kumar express their concerns over the practicality of accommodating most of these workers in their home state due to the nature of their roles in maintenance and mechanical departments. Currently, coach and wagon repairs are conducted at Mangaluru Central and Junction stations, respectively.
In Kerala, no pit-line exists for track inspection and maintenance, and Palakkad Town station lacks the necessary infrastructure. Another staff member, speaking anonymously, worries that employees remaining in Mangaluru may face a lack of work and a delayed transfer back to Kerala, as they would be at the bottom of the waiting list for Keralite staff who have already applied for in-state postings.
SRES functionaries also allege that staff unions were not informed about the merger decision, asserting that a memorandum of understanding to safeguard staff concerns should have been signed between the general managers of both divisions prior to the change.
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