Members of Ambamaheswari Seva Trust and volunteers of Awake Kudla team, along with K. Ravishankar, Deputy Commissioner of Police at Pandeshwar railway level crossing in Mangaluru, on Sunday,
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The gate at the Pandeshwar railway level crossing is closed 11 times a day, according to the gate closure timings unveiled on Sunday under the auspices of Mangaluru City Traffic Police and Ambamaheswari Seva Trust.
According to the timings, the gate is closed four times in the forenoon, starting from 8.35 a.m. and seven times in the afternoon and evening, ending at 8.25 p.m.
It is closed from 8.35 a.m. to 8.50 a.m., 9 a.m. to 9.10 a.m., 9:25 a.m. to 9.40 a.m., and 10.25 a.m. to 10.40 a.m. in the forenoon.
The afternoon gate closing timings are 12.10 p.m. to 12.25 p.m., 2.50 p.m. to 3.05 p.m., 3.20 p.m. to 3.35 p.m., 3.50 p.m. to 4.05 p.m., 6.35 p.m. to 6.50 p.m., 7 p.m. to 7.15 p.m., and 8.10 p.m. to 8.25 p.m.
According to Umanath Kotekar, General Secretary of the trust, the timings are approximate, as provided by the Railway Department and the gatekeeper’s cabin. The timings may change slightly when operating additional trains or due to other operational reasons.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime and traffic) K. Ravishankar unveiled the boards of the gate closing timings and the traffic barricades provided by the trust. The volunteers of the trust and the volunteers of the ‘Awake Kudla’ team displayed the boards near the gate for people to see.
Members of the trust, led by its president A. Seetharam and volunteers of the ‘Awake Kudla’ team, created awareness among people on the lane discipline to be maintained while closing and opening the gates.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Ravishankar said that as the Mahakalipadpu railway underpass became operational on Sunday, when the District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao inaugurated it, the traffic on Mangaladevi-Pandeshwar Road to State Bank of India Road, through Pandeshwar railway level crossing, is likely to go up. Hence, he suggested that people use alternative roads to commute between the Central Business District (CBD) area and the National Highway 66.
People can use Morgan’s Gate – Marnamikatta Road – Koti-Chennaya Circle – Attavar-Railway Station Road, Morgan’s Gate – Marnamikatta Road – Koti-Chennaya Circle – Kankanady Road – Falnir Road – Hampankatta Road, Morgan’s Gate – Jeppu Market – Cascia Junction – Emmekere Cross – Ramakrishna Ashrama – Pandeshwara Road, and Morgan’s Gate – Jeppu Market – Bolara Road – Hoige Bazar Road – Rosario Road to reach the CBD area.
Mr. Kotekar said that the volunteers of the ‘Awake Kudla’ team will help traffic police manage traffic at Pandeshwara and Hoigebazar railway level crossings for a few days, as traffic on those sections is likely to increase from Monday, following the official opening of the Mahakalipadpu underpass on Sunday.
Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta, at a meeting here on January 21, directed Mangaluru City Corporation and the Southern Railway to work in unison to find a permanent solution to the frequent closure of the railway level crossing gates at Pandeshwar and Hoige Bazar.
As a temporary measure, the Railways could also explore installing LED screens at the approaches to the level crossing gates to announce train movement well in advance, Capt. Chowta suggested.
Published – January 25, 2026 06:58 pm IST
