Mangaluru under SWR: Railwaymen want clarity on continuation of their service in Mangaluru

About 90% of the personnel working in Mangaluru region, from Ullal to Panambur, hail from Keralam and Tamil Nadu | Photo Credit: ANIL KUMAR SASTRY Railwaymen are clueless about their continuation ever since the Railway Ministry announced merging Mangaluru Railway Region from Southern Railway’s Palakkad Division with South Western Railway’s Mysuru Division. Many have been spending sleepless nights worried over their elders and families, Southern Railway Mazdoor Union’s Mangaluru branch said urging the Railway Ministry to clearly spell out its stand on the fate of about 1,200 employees.About 40% of the existing personnel, who wish to stay back in Mangaluru under SWR from October 1, need an assurance that they would not further be transferred to other places in the zone. About 90% of the personnel working in Mangaluru region, from Ullal to Panambur, hail from Keralam and Tamil Nadu. Many of them came to Mangaluru from other areas of Southern Railway, sacrificing promotions, only to be nearer to their families, said J. Ananda, vice-president of SRMU, Mangaluru.The August 21 order on jurisdictional change of Mangaluru region issued by the Railway Ministry says necessary transfer orders would be issued in due course for gazetted officers. For non-gazetted staff, transfer of posts and staff would be done on “as is where is basis”. However, the staff would be given option to stay in SR or switch to SWR. Staff opting for SWR would be transferred on administrative grounds and their seniority would be determined on the length of service in the present grade.Oral assuranceNotwithstanding oral assurances by senior officials on retaining those who opt for SWR in Mangaluru, the railwaymen want an official statement by the Ministry guaranteeing their continued stay in Mangaluru, Mr. Ananda said.No immediate shiftingMeanwhile, a senior engineer with Palakkad Division said that there would not be any overnight shifting of railwaymen, who opt to continue with Southern Railway, from Mangaluru. In order to ensure unhindered train operations, they would have to stay back till the Mysuru Division would be able to manage the affairs on its own.Even further, their return to SR depends on accrual of vacancies in the zone, following which requests would be sent to SWR to repatriate those who have opted for SR. SWR has to fill such vacancies through regular recruitment.There is also doubt as to whether all the personnel opting to continue with Palakkad will be posted in Palakkad as the division’s operations will get considerably reduced after the transfer of the region as Mangaluru housed the only major coaching depot of Palakkad Division. Published - September 08, 2026 07:16 pm IST