Massive traffic jams feared at Pandeshwar level crossing after commissioning of Mahakalipadpu twin RuBs in Mangaluru

Though a goods shed was shifted from Bunder Yard to Ullal, Southern Railway’s Palakkad division continues to use Bunder Yard for stabling passenger trains. As a consequence, the Pandeshwar LC Gate gets closed a few times in a day.

With over four years of work on the twin Railway Under Bridge at Mahakalipadpu in south Mangaluru nearing completion, some residents have raised concerns over the possible traffic jams at Pandeshwar Level Crossing on Mangaladevi Road once the RuBs are commissioned.

“After the RuBs are commissioned, all kinds of vehicles between the Central Business District (CBD) and southern parts of Mangaluru, including Kasargod, will start using the Jeppinamogaru-Morgan’s Gate-Mangaladevi stretch. With the Pandeshwar Level Crossing on Mangaladevi Road still operational, one can expect massive traffic jams whenever the LC gate is closed,” said Guru Prasad, a resident of Bolara.

Mr. Prasad told The Hindu that though the goods shed was shifted from Bunder Yard to Ullal, Southern Railway’s Palakkad division continues to use Bunder Yard for stabling passenger trains. As a consequence, the Pandeshwar LC Gate gets closed a few times in a day.

With the narrow LC gate coupled with an increase of vehicular traffic after opening of Mahakalipadpu twin RuB, vehicles might pile up till Mangaladevi temple and A. B. Shetty Circle on both the ends, he fears.

He said citizens, through then member of parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel and the present MP Captain Brijesh Chowta, had urged the Southern Railway to relocate its staff quarters and offices not connected with train operations to Bunder Yard. These offices are located next to Mangaluru Central Railway Station.

This was because the railways had already ruled out the possibility of constructing an RuB at Pandeshwar following the presence of a major storm water drain while a Rail Over Bridge is not possible for want of land on either side of the road.

The only alternative to avoid traffic snarls is to halt operation of trains to Bunder Yard and eliminate the LC Gate, he said.