Coastal Passenger Groups Clash Over Proposed Karwar-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Route

A sharp debate has emerged between residents and railway passenger associations across coastal Karnataka over the route and scheduled halts for the proposed Karwar-Bengaluru Vande Bharat train service. While commuter campaigns and residents in Dakshina Kannada are seeking halts inside Mangaluru city, passenger groups from Uttara Kannada, Udupi, and Surathkal strongly oppose routing the express service into Mangaluru Central station.

Social media campaigns originating from Dakshina Kannada have called for the proposed Bengaluru-Karwar train to halt at both Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction. Proponents of the move argue that any high-speed train linking the state capital with the coastal belt should adequately and comprehensively cater to Mangaluru.

However, railway user groups and commuter representatives from Karwar, Udupi, and Surathkal have rejected the proposal. They contend that taking the train off the mainline into Mangaluru Central would create major operational delays and significantly extend travel times for passengers bound for northern coastal districts.

Rajeev Gaonkar of the Uttara Kannada Rail Seva Samiti noted that coastal Karnataka extends far beyond Mangaluru, encompassing nearly 300 kilometres of coastline. He pointed out that this corridor includes numerous towns, educational institutions, industrial centres, tourist destinations, and passenger catchment areas.

According to Gaonkar, extending and diverting the Karwar-Bengaluru Vande Bharat service into Mangaluru Central would add nearly two hours to the total journey for passengers travelling toward Udupi, Kundapura, and Karwar.

Gaonkar also pointed out that Mangaluru itself is already served by several railway stations, including Bantwal, Farangipete, Padeel, Jokatte, and Surathkal (Mangaluru North). These multiple stops allow commuters to access different parts of the city with minimal additional travel.

Furthermore, Gaonkar argued that passengers arriving from Bengaluru could reach Mangaluru city from stations such as Bantwal within a short period, whereas operational constraints often mean trains take considerably longer to cover the final stretch into the city’s central stations.