Mangaluru: In an effort to address recurring traffic congestion near railway level crossings in the city, Shri Ambamaheshwari Seva Trust has submitted a detailed proposal to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dakshina Kannada, seeking the installation of advance display boards to alert commuters about railway gate closures and suggest alternative routes.
Copies of the proposal have been marked to the Member of Parliament, local MLAs, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL), the traffic police department and the railway department, highlighting the need for coordinated action among multiple agencies.
Frequent gate closures causing major congestion
Speaking about the proposal, trust president Seetharam A said that railway gates at Pandeshwar and Hoige Bazaar crossings have been closing frequently in recent days, leading to severe traffic jams and inconvenience to the general public. The problem becomes particularly acute during morning and evening peak hours when traffic volume is at its highest.
“These crossings are located in some of the busiest parts of the city. When gates close without any advance warning, vehicles pile up rapidly, leading to long delays, fuel wastage and frustration among commuters,” he said.
Pedestrians, public transport users and emergency vehicles are also affected, as congestion often spills over into adjoining junctions and interior roads.
Proposal for advance display boards at key junctions
The proposal recommends installing electronic display boards on approach roads leading to major railway gates. These boards would alert commuters in advance about gate closures and guide them towards alternative routes using simple, easy-to-understand symbols instead of text-heavy messages.
According to the trust, proposed locations for the display boards include key junctions such as Mangaladevi Circle, Morgan’s Gate Junction, Hamilton Circle and State Bank area, which feed traffic towards Pandeshwar and Hoige Bazaar railway crossings.
“The idea is to inform road users before they reach the gate. If drivers know a gate is closed, they can divert early instead of getting stuck in a jam near the crossing,” Seetharam explained.
Smart City control room to play a key role
The trust has also held discussions with officials of Mangaluru Smart City Limited to explore the technical feasibility of the project. A meeting was held a few days ago with Arun Prabha KS, general manager (technical), MSCL, to discuss how real-time information could be integrated through the Smart City control room.
Under the proposed system, data on train movements and gate closures could be relayed to the Smart City command and control centre, which would then update the display boards automatically. This would ensure timely and accurate information for commuters.
Officials present at the meeting reportedly expressed openness to exploring the idea, subject to coordination with the railway department and traffic police.
Railway department support sought for train timings
A crucial aspect of the proposal involves obtaining precise train arrival and departure timings from the railway department for Pandeshwar and Hoige Bazaar crossings. The trust has requested the railways to share this information on a regular basis.
“These timings will help us design timing-based display messages and also share updates with the public through our social media platforms,” Seetharam said.
Accurate scheduling information would allow commuters to plan their travel better, especially those who use these routes daily for work, education and business.
Mahakalipadpu RUBs to increase traffic flow
The trust has also flagged concerns about future traffic growth. With the Mahakalipadpu road underbridges (RUBs) nearing completion, traffic from the Mangaladevi side is expected to increase significantly in the coming months.
While the RUBs are intended to ease congestion at certain points, the trust warned that they could also divert more vehicles towards Pandeshwar and Hoige Bazaar crossings, potentially worsening the situation if proactive measures are not taken.
“Without advance traffic management solutions, the benefits of new infrastructure could be diluted by bottlenecks at existing railway gates,” the proposal noted.
Trust offers to work with all departments
Shri Ambamaheshwari Seva Trust, which has been actively involved in traffic management and civic issues in Mangaluru for several years, has expressed its willingness to work closely with all concerned departments to implement the solution.
The trust said it is ready to assist with planning, public awareness and coordination between agencies to ensure that the system is user-friendly and effective.
“Our objective is purely public interest. If departments work together, this can be implemented at a relatively low cost and provide immediate relief to thousands of commuters every day,” Seetharam said.
Conclusion
The proposal submitted by Shri Ambamaheshwari Seva Trust highlights a practical, technology-driven approach to managing traffic congestion near railway crossings in Mangaluru. By combining advance display boards, real-time data from the railways and the Smart City control room, the initiative aims to reduce delays, improve commuter experience and enhance overall traffic flow. If accepted and implemented, it could serve as a model for addressing similar congestion issues at railway crossings across the city.