The engineering design department at IIT Madras is the newest department on campus. If you're interested in pursuing design-oriented courses closely related to mechanical engineering, this department is worth considering. The dual degree program in Engineering design has a good scope for campus placements, which are comparable to placements in the mechanical engineering department.

Although there are not many seats available for undergraduates, it's surprising to note that the department closes at lower ranks in JEE than other departments such as Civil engineering and Chemical engineering. The engineering design department also offers better core job packages than the aforementioned departments.

One of the advantages of being a new department is that the engineering design department boasts great infrastructure and classrooms, which are well-maintained compared to other older buildings on campus.

So if you're looking for a new and exciting department with promising career prospects, the engineering design department at IIT Madras might be the perfect fit for you

Both the Electrical Engineering program at IIT Mandi and the Engineering Design program at IIT Madras are well-regarded programs and have their unique strengths and weaknesses. The better program for a Keralite can be determined by comparing important factors like the curriculum, faculty, research opportunities, and job prospects

From the options you have mentioned, I assume you prefer convenience over academic quality. However, it’s better to look at the bigger picture and focus on the branches more than the institute. To strive for the best, one has to come out of their comfort zone so that only one can grow and reach new heights. 

In order to determine the right branch, research on the respective branches and the job opportunities offered by each. I am sure one or the other branch will intrigue you and trust me that will be the right one for you irrespective of how many Km you have to travel to reach there.

Ultimately, the decision of which program is better for a Keralite will depend on the individual's interests, goals, and career aspirations. It would be best to speak with current students, faculty, and alumni of both programs and gather as much information as possible in order to make an informed decision.