Great... But KRCL always do mess with stoppages at main stations. Specially at Kundapura Station. There is consideration for Byndoor/Bhatkal/Udupi stations. It’s very illogical as Udupi is more than 45 Km away from Kundapura Station and Byndoor Station located at remote border of the Udupi District, again its more than 40 Km road distance from Kundapura. Ultimately majority of local commuters of Kundapura (more than 50 Km radius from Kundapura Town) cannot utilize train service, resulting lost faith/interest in trains services.
It’s a fact that Byndoor Station attracts only south bound Kerala pilgrims. Their usage in Konkan Railway route is just 112 km (Tokur to Byndoor) only. Kundapura Station is ideal and central point in the Taluk which attracts north bound migrants...
more... and visitors of Mumbai, Delhi, Vapi, Valsad, Surat, Ahmadabad, Goa, Pune etc. In fact Kundapura people are using maximum on Konkan Railway route about 658 Km (up to Roha and further). More importantly Byndoor to Kollur Mookambika Temple by road its 30 Km and Kundapura to Kollur around 40 Km. There is not much difference and it is just 10 Km, Kollur Mookambika Devotees of Kerala definitely can afford 10 Km extra road travelling, it would not be a burden to them. As Kundapura Station attracts north bound migrants/visitors and their utilization/patronage in north bound trains are better than the Byndoor and Bhatkal Stations. So stoppages for all Kerala (South) to North bound trains at Kundapura will helpful for not only local people of Kundapura in maximum number but also beneficial for KRCLs revenue point-of-view.
Why halting at Kundapura Station is important?
1. The Town Municipal Council Kundapur was constituted in 1973. And it’s a 3rd oldest municipality after Mangalore & Udupi in undivided South Kanara District.
2. Kundapura has all Government Offices like – Additional District & Sessions Court, District main Forest Office under Mangalore Circle, Deputy Superintend of Police with full pledged Police Station as well as separate wing of Women’s Police Station, Assistant Commissioner/Taluk Thahasildar Office, Sub-Registrar, Fire Brigade, RTO Police & Driving License Camps, MESCOMs (Electricity) regional office etc. Newly constructed “Mini Vidhana Soudha” have occupied by few above mentioned offices.
3. In city Jurisdiction major nationalized banks are operational (SBI, Corporation, Syndicate, Vijaya, Canara, UBI etc.) and big presence of private sector banks too (ICICI, HDFC, Axis, IDBI, Karnataka, Bharat Bank, SCDC many more). Even Life Insurance Corporation of India’s (LICs) full pledged branch started in the year 1966.
4. Kundapura Town is business centre and regions’ central point for trade and has APMC (Agriculture Produce Market) yard.
5. Center for major and many well-known educational institutions, Tourist places, beaches, historical famous temples, Hotels & Lodges, KSRTC Buses, Private Buses Network and other transportation facilities.
6. Higher number of population and households, central location as well as larger area coverage and well-connected roads to border portions of Shimoga and Chikamagalore districts too. Kundapura Station is nearest Station for Shringeri (Historical Sharadamba Temple and Aadi Guru Shankaracharaya Samstaan/Peeta is about 80 km) in Konkan Railway Route.
Getting patronage is slow process, only after providing proper information, proper timings and proper facilities to passengers will start realizing use of railways. Kundapura is always neglected for stops for many trains, holiday specials trains, no and negligible station quota tickets. So, please correct these mistakes.
Hope this time Kundapura will get permanent stop with enough station quota tickets.