Baikampady: People traveling from Panambur to the seaside village of Meenakaliya on the outskirts of Mangaluru face a recurring ordeal of crossing the goods trains that often block their path. For many years, locals have had to either climb over or crawl under these stationary trains that obstruct the main road.
Goods trains, loading goods from the warehouses here, stand idle on the tracks for much of the day, making crossing them a daily circus for the people. This obstruction intensified with the development of the port at Meenakaliya, has severely impacted the movement of people. Despite numerous pleas to authorities and elected representatives, residents say they have received empty assurances, with no concrete plans to address the issue.
Struggle for Women and Children
There are two ways to reach Meenakaliya. One is a direct route, just 1 km west from the Panambur industrial area station, and the other is a detour through Baikampady, about 4 km away on the main road. However, the nearer route is often blocked by the railway track and trains, which is inconvenient for the over one thousand residents of the area, not all of whom own vehicles. Regular travel by rickshaw, costing around Rs 70 each time, is also beyond the means of most.
With rapid growth in the port area, there are now numerous warehouses in Meenakaliya, and goods are transported solely by rail. This has led to an increase in the number of goods trains, which sometimes stop for hours as loading operations continue. Local youth, men, college students, and working professionals somehow manage to squeeze through small gaps between the train cars. However, for children, the elderly, and women, it is a struggle; they often have no option but to bend and crawl under the trains. The sight of the elderly and women rolling under train cars is particularly heart-wrenching.
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Carrying bags and belongings while crossing the tracks is another unavoidable challenge for the elderly and women, causing them pain in their hands, feet, and knees.
Response from the Prime Minister’s Office Yet to Yield Results
Local residents have repeatedly appealed to the railway and port authorities to build a permanent overpass across the tracks. An email request was even sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prompting the Prime Minister’s Office to respond, recommending that the cost for such an overpass be shared among the port, the state government, and the municipal corporation. However, despite this response arriving in December 2023, no further action has been taken.
Pedestrian Pathways Near the Highway Also a Problem
The residents’ daily routes, bus stops, and other essential areas were closed off during highway and petrol pump expansions. Even after requesting the municipality to build suitable footpaths and bus shelters, the promise remains unfulfilled.
Villagers Pin Hopes on MP Brijesh Chowta
Recently, MP Brijesh Chowta, who is known for securing employment for those who lost jobs in the Special Economic Zone, has caught the villagers’ attention. Residents are planning to approach him to convey their long-standing request for an overpass or underpass near the goods train tracks at the port, facilitating easier movement for locals.
Maximal Efforts to Solve the Issue
“I have submitted a proposal for constructing a pedestrian overpass similar to those at railway stations for the safe movement of residents and students near the railway yard. I’ve been informed that there is a technical delay. I will bring this issue to the attention of the MP and make maximal efforts to resolve it.” — Dr. Bharat Shetty, MLA
Translated from a Kannada article by Laxminarayan Rao 