Mangaluru: Passengers at Mangaluru Junction railway station faced severe inconvenience on Tuesday night after heavy rain exposed major leaks in the station’s newly upgraded roof infrastructure. The incident has triggered widespread criticism from commuters and raised questions about the quality of redevelopment works carried out under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
The sudden downpour on May 12 turned sections of the railway platform into a chaotic scene as rainwater poured through the roofing structure in multiple places. Passengers waiting for trains were forced to move around the platform searching for dry spots while trying to protect their luggage from getting soaked.
The incident has become particularly controversial because the station has been undergoing redevelopment under the Union Railway Ministry’s ambitious Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had virtually laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment project in August 2023.
Just last month, officials from the Palakkad Railway Division reportedly informed a district committee meeting that development works worth nearly Rs 20 crore had been completed at the station. According to officials, the completed works included upgraded platform shelters and renovation of the station building.
Heavy rain exposes alleged poor-quality work
However, the heavy rain on Tuesday night exposed glaring shortcomings in the newly installed infrastructure. Visuals from the station showed streams of water cascading through the metal roofing sheets, creating conditions similar to a waterfall across sections of the platform.
Passengers, including senior citizens, women, and children, struggled to avoid the leaking sections as puddles quickly formed across the waiting area. The rainwater rendered several newly installed steel benches unusable, forcing commuters to stand with their luggage for extended periods.
Many passengers crowded near the ‘One Station One Product’ stall and other small sheltered corners to escape the rain. The slippery condition of the platform further added to safety concerns, especially for elderly passengers and those carrying heavy baggage.
The inconvenience was worsened by delayed train schedules, which forced travellers to remain at the station longer than expected during the downpour.
Passenger recounts difficult experience
Among those affected was Mitesh Kabra, a general manager at a private company in Mangaluru, who was travelling to Goa. He was waiting at Platform 1 for the Trivandrum-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Netravathi Express, scheduled to arrive at 10.30 pm but delayed.
Speaking about the incident, Kabra described the situation as extremely frustrating and disappointing.
According to him, passengers were already exhausted due to the delayed train service when the rain exposed what he termed as poor infrastructure quality at the station. He said commuters were forced to run around searching for dry places to stand while trying to safeguard their belongings from the leaking roof.
Kabra also questioned how a station upgraded with crores of rupees under a major national redevelopment scheme failed to provide even basic rain protection for passengers during pre-monsoon showers.
Questions raised over Rs 20 crore redevelopment
The incident has led to growing public anger over the quality of work carried out as part of the station redevelopment project. Citizens and passengers have questioned whether proper quality checks were conducted before declaring the infrastructure works complete.
The sharp contrast between the claimed Rs 20 crore development works and the condition witnessed during a single night of heavy rain has become a major talking point among commuters.
Passengers have now urged senior railway authorities to conduct an immediate technical inspection of the platform roofing and other recently completed structures. Several travellers also demanded that contractors responsible for the alleged sub-standard work be held accountable.
With the southwest monsoon expected to arrive in the coastal region in the coming weeks, commuters fear the situation could worsen significantly if urgent corrective measures are not taken. Many passengers expressed concern that continuous monsoon rain may further expose weaknesses in the newly installed infrastructure and increase hardship for daily travellers.
Demand for urgent corrective measures
Citizens have called upon railway authorities to take immediate action to repair the leaking roof before the onset of full-scale monsoon rains in coastal Karnataka.
Regular passengers said railway stations serve as critical public infrastructure and should ensure safety, comfort, and protection from weather conditions. They argued that redevelopment projects funded through public money must deliver durable and reliable facilities rather than cosmetic upgrades.
As criticism continues to mount, railway authorities are expected to face increasing pressure to explain the quality of the redevelopment work and address the issues highlighted by passengers at Mangaluru Junction station.