Railway associations seek to merge Mangalore and Mysore divisions

Railway associations seek to merge Mangalore and Mysore divisions

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 20: Various associations of train travellers in coastal Karnataka are urging the MPs to merge Mangalore division with that of Mysore in a bid to thwart the attempts of Kerala MPs to form a new railway zone with Thiruvananthapuram as its headquarters.

The associations have heard that Kerala MPs have submitted a proposal to the Railway Board demanding that the Konkan Railway line up to Madgaon and Hassan should be part of the Thiruvananthapuram zone as well as seeking the formation of a division with Mangalore as headquarters.


Currently, the Thokur - Madgaon railway line is part of the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., (KRCL), while Hassan is part of the Mysore division of South Western Railway with its headquarters in Hubli. Mangalore is part of the Palakkad division of Southern Railway.


Convener of West Coast Rail Yathri Development Committee Anil Hegde said that the association expects the MPs to fight for the merger of Mangalore with Mysore division as this will ensure that the majority of the railway network in Karnataka will remain as part of one zone with its headquarters in the state.


President of the Railway Yatri Sangha in Udupi R. L. Dias explained that a new Mangalore division might be merged with the proposed Thiruvananthapuram zone once it is formed. Both Mr. Dias and Mr. Hegde preferred retaining KRCL as a separate body because it is maintaining its stations well. Mr. Hegde said efforts made to merge it with Indian Railways should be thwarted.