Mangaluru: Sri Ambamaheshwari Seva Trust has urged the Dakshina Kannada district administration and other civic authorities to bring the newly developed Mangaladevi Bus Terminal at Jeppu into immediate use ahead of the Dasara festival.
The trust has submitted a letter to the Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner, with copies forwarded to the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commissioner, the Mangaluru city police commissioner and the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), seeking the immediate operationalisation of the facility.
In a release, the trust said that Mangaladevi Temple Road witnesses a significant increase in traffic during Dasara as large numbers of devotees visit the historic Mangaladevi Temple. It said shifting bus operations to the new terminal could help ease congestion and improve public safety during the festival.
Terminal inaugurated in February 2025 remains unused
The Mangaladevi Bus Terminal at Jeppu was inaugurated in February 2025. However, despite the inauguration, the facility has not yet been put into use, according to the trust.
The delay in operationalising the terminal has prompted the organisation to seek intervention from the district administration and the departments concerned.
The trust has requested the authorities to ensure that the facility is made operational before the Dasara rush begins, allowing buses serving the temple area to use the designated terminal instead of contributing to congestion along Mangaladevi Temple Road.
The organisation has also called for the terminal to remain in regular use after the festival rather than being opened only for the temporary management of Dasara traffic.
Dasara crowds raise traffic and safety concerns
Mangaladevi Temple is a major centre of religious activity during the annual Dasara celebrations, attracting devotees from Mangaluru and surrounding areas.
The increased movement of people and vehicles during the festival places additional pressure on roads near the temple. Bus movements, passenger boarding and alighting, and the arrival of private vehicles can add to congestion in the surrounding area.
The trust said putting the new terminal to use would help manage bus traffic more effectively and improve safety for devotees and other road users.
Shifting bus operations to a designated facility could also help streamline vehicle movement and reduce the pressure on roads close to the temple, particularly during peak visiting hours.
Trust seeks permanent use of the terminal
The trust has specifically requested the authorities to shift bus operations to the Jeppu terminal during this year’s Dasara festival and continue operating it as the designated bus terminal thereafter.
Its appeal has been addressed to the district administration and the civic, police and transport authorities, whose coordination would be important for putting the facility into operation.
The request comes as the city prepares to manage increased traffic and pedestrian movement during the festival period.
While the terminal was inaugurated more than a year ago, the reasons for the delay in commencing operations were not specified in the trust’s release. No official response or confirmation of an operational date was included in the information provided.
The trust has called for an early decision so that the facility can serve its intended purpose and help reduce traffic-related difficulties around Mangaladevi Temple.