Coastal Karnataka's long-standing demand has been fulfilled as the Mangaluru railway area is set to move from Kerala's Palakkad division to South Western Railway's Mysuru division from October 1, 2026, bringing key stations under Karnataka's railway administration.
After decades of demands from people in Coastal Karnataka, a major administrative change is set to reshape railway operations in the region. The Railway Ministry has ordered the transfer of the Mangaluru railway area from Kerala's Palakkad division to the Mysuru division of South Western Railway (SWR). The move is being seen as a significant development for Dakshina Kannada and the wider coastal belt, with expectations that it could streamline railway administration, improve coordination and accelerate infrastructure and service-related projects in the region.
New System From October 1, 2026
According to the Railway Board's order, the administrative change will come into effect from October 1, 2026.
Under the new arrangement, key stations including Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction, extending up to Ullal railway station, will come under the Mysuru division.
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At present, the boundary between the Palakkad and Mysuru divisions is at Padil railway station. Following the change, Ullal will become the new interchange point between the two divisions.
The Divisional Headquarters will remain in Mysuru, while the Zonal Headquarters of South Western Railway will continue to be in Hubballi.
MP Brijesh Chowta's Efforts Pay Off
Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has played a key role in pushing for the transfer. He had repeatedly raised the issue with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and pursued the demand to bring the Mangaluru railway area under the Mysuru division.
During Minister of State for Railways V Somanna's visit to Mangaluru in July 2024, Chowta also held a special meeting with him to discuss the long-standing demand.
Following the Railway Ministry's decision, Chowta thanked both ministers for approving the proposal, saying the move was made in the public interest.
What This Means For Passengers
For years, Mangaluru's railway administration being under the Palakkad division had been a major concern for local representatives and railway users. Issues related to new trains, timetable changes, station upgrades and other infrastructure requirements often involved coordination with a division headquartered outside Karnataka.
With the Mangaluru railway area now coming under the Mysuru division, local representatives and passengers expect administrative processes to become more streamlined.
The move could also make it easier to pursue new train services connecting the coastal region with Bengaluru, Mysuru and North Karnataka, while improving coordination on existing services.
Boost For Coastal Railway Development
The transfer is also expected to provide fresh momentum to railway infrastructure development across Dakshina Kannada and the wider coastal region.
With the area coming under South Western Railway's Mysuru division, there are hopes that long-pending infrastructure requirements and development projects will receive greater administrative attention.
For Mangaluru and other parts of Coastal Karnataka, the decision marks the culmination of a long-standing demand. Railway passengers and residents across the region are now looking forward to improved connectivity, faster administrative decisions and greater focus on the coastal railway network.
