Railways to Bring Entire Mangaluru Area Under South Western Railway Zone

The Ministry of Railways has decided to bring the entire Mangaluru railway area under a single zone, South Western Railway (SWR), in a move aimed at resolving long-standing operational problems. At present, the region is split among three jurisdictions — Southern Railway, South Western Railway and Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL).

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw raised the issue during a meeting with MPs from Kerala on Monday. He said the division of Mangaluru among multiple railway authorities was causing serious operational difficulties.

Under the plan, the whole Mangaluru area will be transferred to the Mysore Division of South Western Railway. The ministry said this would create a clear, unified operational boundary and eliminate interchange conflicts between zones, allowing smoother and more efficient train operations.

The national transporter explained that trains approaching Mangaluru from the Goa side or the Hassan side often have to pass through different operational areas and interchange points before reaching the station. This can result in delays, congestion and coordination problems.

The exercise is being described as an operational rationalisation intended to improve efficiency, rather than a change driven by administrative considerations.

Kerala's rail progress

Vaishnaw also spoke about railway infrastructure in Kerala, stating that the state has achieved 100 per cent electrification of its rail network.

He said 35 stations in Kerala are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Over the past five years, more than 180 train stoppages have been provided in the state, and 22 new train services have been introduced in the last two years.