Thiruvananthapuram: John Brittas, a Member of Parliament from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) representing Kerala, expressed strong opposition to a proposed plan to split the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway to create a new Mangalore Division. In his letter addressed to Railway Minister Aswini Vaishnaw, Brittas argued that such a bifurcation would have serious negative consequences for Kerala’s railway infrastructure and its broader socio-economic framework
Brittas argued that “the proposal to carve out a new Mangalore Division from the existing Palakkad Division seems to be part of a larger conspiracy against Kerala, lacking both economic justification and administrative necessity.”
Further, he highlighted that the Palakkad Division plays a crucial role in the Southern Railway network, known for its excellent performance in managing passenger traffic and generating revenue. He criticized the proposal for lacking both economic rationale and administrative merit.
Furthermore, Brittas pointed out that this proposal contradicts a Southern Railway press statement from May 2024, which denied any intentions to modify the Palakkad Division.
