For Kerala's northern districts, the Palakkad Railway Division is far more than an administrative label on a map — it shapes who gets new trains, new stops and long-awaited infrastructure. On Saturday, the Malappuram District Development Committee (DDC) made its position unmistakably clear, unanimously opposing the proposed bifurcation of the division and urging the Railway Board and the Union government to withdraw the plan.

Key facts

  • The Malappuram DDC unanimously opposed the proposed bifurcation of the Palakkad Railway Division.
  • The Railway Board has proposed shifting the Mangaluru-Ullal section from the Palakkad division to the Mysuru division.
  • The committee says the move would affect rail development and passenger services in Malappuram, north Malabar and Kasaragod.
  • The resolution was moved by Gafur Kurumadan, representing Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer.
  • District Collector Vinay Goyal addressed the meeting at Malappuram on Saturday.

What the Railway Board has proposed

At the heart of the dispute is a plan to shift the Mangaluru-Ullal section from the Palakkad division to the Mysuru division. The committee warned the move would affect rail development and passenger services in Malappuram, north Malabar and Kasaragod — regions that have long pressed for better connectivity.

The resolution, moved by Gafur Kurumadan on behalf of Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer, cautioned that the change could hinder new train services, additional stops and infrastructure projects in the region. It was a prospect the committee was unwilling to accept, and its opposition carried the weight of unanimity.

Law and order, highway woes also on the table

The meeting ranged well beyond railways. P.K. Navas, MLA, lauded the police for maintaining peace at Unnyal beach after recent political clashes, and pressed the Tirur Sub-Collector to take further action — including arrests if required — and to remove unauthorised political structures, sheds, boards, cutouts and flags. The Sub-Collector said the parties had been asked to remove them, and that Revenue authorities would clear whatever remained after Sunday (September 6, 2026).

MLAs T.V. Ibrahim, Abid Hussain Thangal and P.M.A. Sameer, meanwhile, asked the Regional Transport Officer to address problems caused by long-distance buses not entering service roads along National Highway 66.

Health update and local demands

The District Medical Officer told the meeting that H1N1, leptospirosis and dengue cases were being reported amid changing weather, though they remained under control.

Mr. Ibrahim sought the restoration of roads damaged by Jal Jeevan Mission works at Vallikkunnu, while Mr. Thangal pushed for faster progress on the Puthoor-Chenakkal bypass work and the proposed fire station at Valanchery. M. Rahmathulla, MLA, asked officials to speed up the survey for the Manjeri-Olipuzha road and to fill vacant posts if staff shortages were delaying the work.

Honouring performers

The meeting also paused to felicitate three panchayat secretaries — A.M. Narayanan of Edavoor, P. Avisanna of Mampad and Krishnakumari of Pothukallu — for their performance in project implementation. Seven village officers were honoured as well: K.V. Madhu of Ponnani municipality, Mini Shyamalan of Thalakkad, P.V. Shaji of Parappur, Suja Jacob of Alipparamba, Muhammed Poovakkadan of Panakkad, Preethi of Karulai and Unnikrishnan of Muthuvallur.