Mangaluru: The battery-powered buggies introduced at Dr Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisargadhama for tourists’ ease have been lying unused for weeks due to a damaged charging station. These electric vehicles, essential for navigating the sprawling 4km eco-education park, have been out of service since late May.
The Pilikula Development Authority (PDA) confirmed that intense rainfall and strong winds during the last week of May uprooted several trees, which in turn caused a short circuit and severely damaged the buggy charging system. Dr Arun Kumar Shetty, PDA commissioner in-charge, noted that eight fallen trees led to the destruction of two main charging points, making it impossible to operate the vehicles.
These buggies—13 in total, purchased in 2019 via Coastal Development Authority and additional funding—were especially beneficial for elderly visitors who struggled to walk the full stretch covering major attractions like the biological park, planetarium, Guthu Mane, botanical gardens, and more.
Out of the 13 buggies, 12 are operational but idle due to the charging issues, while one remains under mechanical repair. The authority has assured that the restoration work is ongoing and that services will resume shortly.
To improve accessibility further, PDA has also appealed to KSRTC Managing Director V Anbukumar to introduce government buses between Mangaluru and Pilikula. He has reportedly agreed to sanction four trips on the route, easing the current dependence on private transport.
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