Palakkad Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Madhukar Roat and Mysuru DRM Mudit Mittal held the meeting, assisted by branch officers from the mechanical, electrical, operations, commercial, engineering, and other departments. The meeting was held to ensure a smooth transition of control and operations of the Mangaluru Railway Region from Palakkad to Mysuru.
Minimum disruption
Both DRMs emphasised that the primary concern of both divisions is to ensure that the transition is smooth and seamless, with minimal disruption to operations. They agreed that all necessary preparatory and coordination measures would be taken well in advance so that train services and railway operations continue normally from October 1, when the jurisdictional change comes into effect.
The two divisions also discussed matters relating to operational coordination, assets, records, control arrangements, staff, and other associated issues.
Mangaluru — a major hub
As Palakkad Division had housed almost all its major workshops and departments in Mangaluru, including coaching and ballast depots, and engineering, maintenance, and electrical departments, the division was learnt to have urged Mysuru Division to allow it to continue to use the facilities for some more time, till it develops those facilities in its jurisdiction. Though Palakkad has a mechanical depot in Shoranur, it could not match the scale of operations carried out in Mangaluru, officials said.
The coaching depot has been the backbone of Southern Railway’s operations for north Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where about 20 pairs of coaching trains undergo primary maintenance every day along with other maintenance works. Palakkad was learnt to have indicated the need to utilise the facility for some more time. Also, the division has recently converted the Old Bunder Goods Shed (about 10 acres) in Mangaluru into a ballast depot to cater to the ballast requirements of its tracks up to Kannur. The division wanted to utilise this facility as well.
Mysuru Division was learnt to have assured the use of the facilities on the grounds that any asset created should be used optimally for the benefit of the public.
The issue of subsisting contracts in various departments, including commercial, mechanical, electrical, and coach maintenance, was also discussed, and options for either terminating existing contracts or continuing them were explored.