Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Capt. Brijesh Chowta on Friday said his sustained efforts bore fruit with the Railway Ministry approving the long-pending demand to bring the Mangaluru railway region under a single administrative jurisdiction — South Western Railway (SWR).

He said in a statement that the Mangaluru area up to Ullal, inclusive, would be transferred from the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway (SR) to the Mysuru Division of SWR from October 1. The development is expected to ease administrative and jurisdictional hurdles faced by Mangaluru, improve coordination, enable faster resolution of passenger and operational concerns, and facilitate a more focused push for railway infrastructure and connectivity across coastal Karnataka.

Since June 2024

The MP said he has been pursuing the demand consistently since taking office in June 2024. Within weeks of taking oath, he raised the issue during the first visit of Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna to Mangaluru on July 17, 2024, at a high-level review meeting on regional railway infrastructure and connectivity.

The matter was followed up at multiple levels. On November 28, 2024, Capt. Chowta submitted representations seeking the reorganisation of the Mangaluru railway administration and its inclusion under the Mysuru Division of SWR to Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar, Mr Somanna, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The issue was also repeatedly pursued in Parliament. On December 11, 2024, Capt. Chowta raised the inclusion of Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction under SWR through a supplementary question. During the discussion on the Demands for Grants for Railways in March 2025, he broadened the issue, calling for structural reorganisation of the coastal railway network and specifically seeking the reorganisation of Mangaluru’s railway administration from Southern Railway/Palakkad to SWR/Mysuru.

The demand continued to be followed up through subsequent parliamentary interventions, representations, and repeated meetings with the Railway Ministry.

Administrative coherence

The move will bring greater administrative coherence to Mangaluru’s railway operations. With the region earlier falling under different railway jurisdictions, addressing several infrastructure, operational, and passenger-related concerns involved navigating multiple administrative structures.

According to the Railway Board’s order, the SWR–SR interchange point would shift from Padil to Ullal, while Thokur will continue to remain part of Konkan Railway and serve as the interchange point between Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. and SWR.

Capt. Chowta said the decision would help Mangaluru move forward with greater administrative clarity and a stronger focus on railway development.

“With this decision, we will be better placed to address many of our railway-related concerns and ensure that Mangaluru’s railways move faster on the tracks of Vikas,” he said.

Published - August 21, 2026 09:19 pm IST