Newly elected MLC P.V. Mohan sought a halt for Train No. 16596 Panchaganga Express, operating between Karwar and Bengaluru, at Padil railway station in Mangaluru.

Speaking to presspersons after visiting the station on Saturday, Mr. Mohan said: “It is not fair that the train has no halt between Surathkal and Bantwal though it runs via Padil. Giving the train a halt at Padil will not only benefit thousands of passengers but also reduce traffic congestion in Mangaluru city. Seeking a halt at Padil is the right of the people of the city.”

The MLC said the development of Padil railway station had been neglected by the Railways. “Even after several decades, some trains do not stop at the station, which also lacks basic passenger amenities,” he said.

“The legitimate demand of the people of Padil has been ignored for years because of a lack of political will. More than 1,400 families living around the station have to cross the railway tracks every day to travel between the two sides, risking their lives. It is regrettable that the hardships faced by schoolchildren, senior citizens, women, and pregnant women have gone unnoticed. There is a need for a pedestrian foot overbridge or an underpass at Padil,” he said.

Mr. Mohan said that as Padil railway station falls under the Palakkad Railway Division, he would soon meet the Divisional Railway Manager and other senior Railway officials to present the demands of locals.

“My struggle will continue until Padil railway station gets its rightful status and the necessary facilities,” he said.

Published - July 12, 2026 07:19 pm IST