Citizens have been urging the Central Government to take action, arguing that Eladka is an ideal location for a terminal station due to the lack of sufficient space at Mangaluru and Nettana stations along the Mangaluru rail route. However, allegations have surfaced that no steps have been taken so far. It is said that the department is not showing interest because a terminal station involves heavy expenditure.

Congestion relief for Mangaluru

The Kaniyoor railway station is close to the Manjeshwar-Puttur-Subrahmanya State Highway, and many people travel through this station. Despite this, the station has not developed as expected. Therefore, there is a demand to shift the Kaniyoor station to Eladka, where vast land is available, and develop it into a full-fledged terminal. Facilities such as multiple platforms, pit lines, stable lines, and coaching depots should be established there.

The maintenance of trains should occur here so they can reverse from this point. This would enable South Western Railway to start and manage long-distance trains from this region, significantly reducing congestion at Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction.

In essence, a terminal station here would allow it to function as a satellite station and terminal for Kabaka Puttur, Subrahmanya Road, and Mangaluru stations. Currently, express trains passing through Kaniyoor from cities like Bengaluru and Mangaluru do not stop here, leading to a low number of rail passengers. Without a proper platform, 23-coach express trains cannot halt, and there is insufficient space at the current site to build such a large platform or proper crossing facilities. Hence, the demand for a terminal at Eladka remains strong.

Even though express trains like Yashwantpur-Mangaluru-Karwar, Kannur, and Vijayapura operate on this route, they do not stop at Kaniyoor station despite its proximity to the state highway. While Kaniyoor is a key station on the Mangaluru-Subrahmanya passenger route and its platform has been raised, other basic infrastructure remains inadequate.

Previously, the Goa-Yashwantpur-Goa special express had a halt at Kaniyoor, but it was discontinued within a few months. During the meter-gauge era in the 1980s, the Bengaluru Express had a night halt at Kaniyoor. This stop was discontinued after the conversion to broad gauge in 1997. Rail users are now demanding that express trains resume stops here just as they did in the past.

Demand for day and night halts

Passenger numbers at Kaniyoor increased after the morning and evening passenger trains began running from Mangaluru to Subrahmanya. In 2020-2021, the Karwar-Bengaluru Panchaganga Express had a halt at Kaniyoor for about eight months. However, since the timing was at midnight, it did not receive much patronage.

Former Deputy Resident Commissioner M.N. Gowda stated that there is a proposal to develop the railway station at Eladka, one kilometer east of Kaniyoor, where vast land is available. He noted that while it might take 5-6 years for a new station at Eladka to become operational after approval, express trains should be provided day and night halts at the current Kaniyoor station in the interim.

No response yet

"The station must be shifted to Eladka and developed into a full-fledged station. If this happens, it will greatly benefit people from Savanoor, Alankaru, Nintikallu, Bellare, and surrounding areas. A memorandum has been submitted to ministers and high-level officials through Sullia MLA Bhagirathi Murulya regarding this matter. So far, there has been no response," said Shankar Bhat Kalmadka, Member of the Railway Users' Association.