Keralam MPs and Youth Groups Protest Railway Division Split

Members of Parliament and youth organizations in Keralam are protesting a Railway Board decision to detach the Mangaluru region from the Palakkad division of the Southern Railway and merge it with the Mysuru division of the South Western Railway. The change, scheduled for October 1, has sparked allegations that the move is politically motivated to benefit the BJP in Karnataka.

United Democratic Front lawmakers argue the bifurcation will cripple the Palakkad division by removing the Mangaluru port, a major revenue source with estimated losses between ₹600 crore and ₹1,100 crore. Critics also warn of coordination crises for passengers in northern Keralam. In response, Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan wrote to the Union government opposing the move, while MPs called for a White Paper in Parliament to assess the impact on staff and revenue.

Protests intensified on August 24 in Olavakkode, where the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Youth Congress led marches to the Divisional Railway Manager's office. Demonstrations turned violent as activists breached police cordons and climbed compound walls, leading to scuffles with the Railway Protection Force and several arrests. DYFI has since announced further marches across Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad districts.

Opposition leaders have scheduled a hunger strike for August 26, coinciding with Thiruvonam Day, outside the Divisional Railway Manager's office in Palakkad to demand the withdrawal of the decision.