People cross the railway tracks daily at Thokkottu in the absence of a foot overbridge
“For nearly 65 years, the train served as an affordable mode of transport for the people of Thokkottu, Ullal, and surrounding areas, as four passenger trains between Cheruvathur and Mangaluru Central were halting at the station. There is railway-owned land available on both sides of the station, and if a well-equipped station is developed, a DEMU train service from Kundapura to Ullal could be launched in the coming days. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news.
The Thokkottu railway station People cross the railway tracks daily at Thokkottu in the absence of a foot overbridge The Thokkottu railway station People cross the railway tracks daily at Thokkottu in the absence of a foot overbridge Social activist Ajith Kumar Ullal, expressing gratitude to the ministry for its decision to transfer the Mangaluru railway region to the SWR, said that reopening the Thokkottu railway station will benefit commuters and reduce the difficulties faced by people in the surrounding areas. I have made an open request to the ministry to make efforts to reopen the Thokkottu railway station,” he said. By properly developing this railway area, excellent train services can be provided to passengers, he said, demanding a proper study in this regard by the railway authorities. A railway station at Thokkottu will also be helpful for people travelling to prominent religious places, including Ullal Bhagavathi Temple, Ullal Dargah and the St Sebastian Church, he said. “We have been urging elected representatives to address this issue by constructing either an FOB or a road under bridge, which will provide a safe and legal means of crossing the railway tracks at Thokkottu,” said a resident.
However, by gradually stopping train halts at Thokkottu, and eventually closing the Thokkottu railway station, relegating it to history, the Palakkad division deserves severe condemnation. A little ahead of Thokkottu railway station, between Nethravati and Thokkottu, there are three railway lines, which facilitate train crossings. Residents have also been raising concern over lack of a foot overbridge (FOB) at Thokkottu, where people are forced to break the law by crossing the tracks on foot to reach Olapete, one of the oldest towns in Ullal. Download the TOI App.
Locals are also hopeful that the administrative transition will pave the way for reopening the Thokkottu railway station, which has remained shut for nearly 10 years. Mangaluru: The Railway Board’s decision to transfer the Mangaluru railway region to South Western Railway (SWR) has revived long-standing demands from residents of Thokkottu and Ullal. A key concern is the absence of a foot overbridge at Thokkottu, forcing thousands of people to cross the tracks daily in violation of railway rules and exposing themselves to serious danger. Citizens have urged the railway ministry to act on both demands.