Mangaluru Railway Region to Come Under South Western Railway Zone from October 1

The Mangaluru railway region will be brought under the Mysuru division of the South Western Railway zone starting October 1, following a decision by the Railway Board. The administrative restructuring aims to reduce jurisdictional hurdles and improve coordination for coastal Karnataka's rail infrastructure.

The Mangaluru railway region, which has been divided across the South Western Railway (SWR) Zone and the Southern Railway (SR) Zone, is set to be consolidated under the Mysuru division of the SWR. According to a Railway Board letter, the administrative change will take effect from October 1, 2026.

Capt Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament for Dakshina Kannada, announced the decision on X. He stated that the unified jurisdiction was a priority demand raised after taking office in June 2024 and pursued with Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Under the new administrative framework, the Mangaluru area up to Ullal (inclusive) will be transferred from the Palakkad division of the SR to the Mysuru division of the SWR. Consequently, the interchange points between the SWR and the SR will shift from Padil to Ullal.

The Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) station at Thokur will remain part of KRCL as it currently exists, continuing to serve as an interchange point between KRCL and SWR. Additionally, the existing divisional and zonal boundaries between KRCL and SR will transition to become the boundaries between KRCL and SWR.

The Railway Board has directed that necessary preparatory actions, including the transfer of posts, calling of options, and transfer of control boards, be executed in a timely manner ahead of the formal enforcement date outlined in the Gazette Notification.

Commenting on the development, Capt Chowta noted that the integration is expected to reduce administrative hurdles, improve coordination, and enable a faster resolution of passenger concerns. He added that the shift provides greater focus on railway infrastructure and connectivity across coastal Karnataka.

"Administrative consolidation in regional infrastructure plays a critical role in reducing operational bottlenecks and improving execution efficiency. By bringing the Mangaluru railway network under a single unified division, the authorities can expect better coordination, streamlined decision-making, and targeted resource allocation. For businesses and logistics operators relying on coastal connectivity, clearer jurisdictional boundaries will ultimately lead to more predictable transit and infrastructure development." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes