Hans News Service Mangaluru/New Delhi

TheMinistry of Railways has formalised a long-discussed jurisdictional realignment involving the Mangaluru railway area. A Railway Board communication numbered 2025/E&R/1(3)/1 and dated 21 August 2026 addresses the General Managers of South Western Railway and Southern Railway as well as the Chairman and Managing Director of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited.

The competent authority has decided that the Mangaluru area up to Ullal will be transferred from the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway to the Mysuru Division of South Western Railway. Consequently, the interchange points between South Western Railway and Southern Railway will shift from Padil to Ullal.

Thokur station will remain part of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited in its present capacity and will function as the interchange point between Konkan Railway and South Western Railway. The divisional and zonal boundaries that currently exist between Konkan Railway and Southern Railway will become the boundaries between Konkan Railway and South Western Railway.

Exact divisional and zonal boundaries between Southern Railway and South Western Railway will be specified in the Gazette Notification that will follow. On the question of manpower, the Board has prescribed clear procedures.

For gazetted staff, necessary transfer orders for the change of zone together with posts will be issued in due course; action in respect of Group-B officers will be taken as per extant rules.

For non-gazetted staff the transfer of posts and personnel will occur on an “as is where is” basis, yet every employee will be offered the choice of remaining with Southern Railway or moving to South Western Railway. Those who opt for South Western Railway will be transferred on administrative grounds, with seniority determined according to length of service in the present grade.

The jurisdictional changes will take effect from October 1once the Gazette Notification is issued. All preparatory steps, including the transfer of posts, the calling of options from staff, and the relocation of control boards, are required to be completed in a timely manner. Dakshina Kannada parliamentary representative Capt. Brijesh Chowta has noted that the demand for unified administration had been pressed consistently since mid-2024 through engagement with the Union Minister for Railways and other institutional forums. The realignment is expected to reduce coordination difficulties that arose from the previous dual jurisdiction, facilitate quicker handling of operational and passenger-related matters, and allow more concentrated attention on railway infrastructure and connectivity projects serving coastal Karnataka.

With the formal notification anticipated shortly, the new arrangement places the Mangaluru segment under a single zonal and divisional authority within South Western Railway, thereby simplifying the administrative framework that governs one of the region’s important transport corridors.