Sunil Pujari Kergalu, president of the Bijuru Railway Pilgrims Struggle Committee, announced on Wednesday that the group will launch an organized protest if authorities continue to ignore the well‑equipped Bijuru railway station in Kundapura taluk.
The station, which features a loop line and full passenger amenities, has been left out of express‑train stoppage schedules despite a thirty‑year campaign by local travellers. In a press conference held at Nandanavan Hotel, Kergalu said repeated pleas to MPs and railway officials have received no response.
He highlighted that while a Rs 100 crore fund has been cleared for the development of nearby Baindur station, Bijuru – the nearer gateway to the Mookambika temple at Kollur – remains sidelined. Pilgrims from Kerala disembark at Bijuru and travel 26 km to the shrine, whereas the alternative Baindur route adds another four kilometres.
Kergalu urged the government to commission a survey via the Konkan Railway to verify the most convenient access point for devotees. He also pointed out that Bijuru serves as a central hub for villagers who depend on trains to reach Mumbai, Gujarat and Bangalore for work.
Earlier, the Garib Rath Express used to halt at Bijuru before being shifted to Baindur, a move Kergalu finds puzzling given the station’s two loop lines. He questioned why MPs lobby for express stoppages at other stations yet ignore Bijuru, and why a request for a MEMU service has been raised while no demand for express halts has been made.
Local MLA Gururaja Gantihole helped clear a railway pillar and bridge on the route, signalling cooperation for Baindur but not for Bijuru. Kergalu clarified that the committee has no objection to Baindur stoppages, only to the systematic neglect of Bijuru.
Currently, ten to twelve passenger trains pause at Bijuru for crossing purposes. Converting these to scheduled stops would allow travelers to board and alight without delay. The committee seeks at least four express trains to include Bijuru in their itineraries.
Dr. Subrahmanya Bhat, a senior activist, added that the station’s construction displaced fertile farmland, offering only minimal compensation and limited employment to affected families. He warned that continued inaction will force the committee, together with other local groups, to stage a protest from Kergalu pet.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Kundapra