Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 21: Ending a long-pending demand from coastal Karnataka, the Railway Board on Friday approved the transfer of the Mangaluru-area railway network from the Southern Railway (SR) zone to the South Western Railway (SWR) zone, paving the way for a more unified railway administration and improved coordination and infrastructure development in the region.
The jurisdictional change will come into effect from October 1, 2026, according to the Railway Board order notified in the Gazette.
Under the decision, the Mangaluru railway area up to and including Ullal will be transferred from the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway to the Mysuru Division of South Western Railway.
The move will also redraw the operational interchange between the two railway zones. The interchange point between SWR and SR will shift from Padil to Ullal.
Thokur to remain with Konkan Railway
While the Mangaluru area is being brought under SWR, Thokur railway station will continue to remain under Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL).
Following the jurisdictional change, Thokur will serve as the interchange point between KRCL and SWR. The existing divisional and zonal boundaries between KRCL and SR will consequently become the divisional and zonal boundaries between KRCL and SWR.
The Railway Board order said the exact boundaries between SR and SWR will be detailed in the Gazette Notification.
The restructuring is aimed at simplifying a railway network that currently operates across multiple jurisdictions and has long been seen as a hurdle to smooth coordination and infrastructure planning in the Mangaluru region.
Staff transfer arrangements
The Railway Board order also sets out arrangements for the transfer of railway posts and staff following the jurisdictional change.
Necessary transfer orders for posts and employees will be issued in due course, while Group-B officers will be dealt with according to existing rules.
For non-gazetted staff, the transfer will be carried out on an “as is where is” basis. Employees will have the option of either continuing with Southern Railway or moving to South Western Railway.
Those opting for SWR will be shifted on administrative grounds, with their seniority fixed according to their length of service in the present grade.
The Railway Board has directed that preparatory measures, including the transfer of posts, inviting options from staff and shifting control boards, should be completed in time for the new jurisdictional arrangement to take effect.
Three-way jurisdiction set to change
At present, the railway network in and around Mangaluru falls under three jurisdictions — Southern Railway, South Western Railway and Konkan Railway. The division of railway operations among the three has resulted in coordination challenges, particularly in the administration and development of railway infrastructure in coastal Karnataka.
The issue has been a longstanding concern for local residents and public representatives, who have been seeking a single railway jurisdiction for the Mangaluru area.
Dakshina Kannada BJP MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta had been pressing the Railway Ministry to bring the Mangaluru railway network under a single railway zone, arguing that a unified jurisdiction would improve administration, coordination and infrastructure development.
Welcoming the Railway Board's decision, Chowta said bringing the network under the Mysuru Division of SWR would streamline railway operations under one administrative system.
The decision fulfils a long-standing demand concerning Mangaluru's railway network, which has remained divided between different railway jurisdictions.
The transfer is also expected to provide a more streamlined framework for planning and executing railway infrastructure projects in and around Mangaluru, while reducing the administrative complexities arising from the existing three-way jurisdiction.
Somanna hails major step for coastal Karnataka
Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna, who had pursued the matter with the Railway Ministry, described the decision as a major step taken in response to the longstanding demands of coastal Karnataka.
Somanna said the restructuring would aid the overall development of railway infrastructure in the region, with particular benefits expected for Mangaluru and surrounding areas.
The decision marks a significant change in the administrative structure of railway operations in coastal Karnataka. From October 1, 2026, the Mangaluru railway area up to Ullal will come under the Mysuru Division of South Western Railway, while Thokur will remain with KRCL and serve as the KRCL-SWR interchange.
The Railway Board's decision is expected to bring the Mangaluru railway network under a more streamlined administrative structure, improve coordination between railway authorities and facilitate infrastructure development across the coastal region.