Mangaluru Smart City Ltd., has stationed different kinds of vehicles to prevent drivers and riders from using the almost completed twin Railway Underbridge at Mahakalipadpu.
| Photo Credit: ANIL KUMAR SASTRY
The opening of the twin Railway Under Bridge (RUB) at Mahakalipadpu in Jeppu, intended to replace the existing level crossing, appears to be stalled by bureaucratic hurdles despite the facility being nearly ready for vehicular traffic.
Mangaluru Smart City Ltd., (MSCL), which had executed the project, had earlier assured the District Development and Coordination Committee meeting that the twin RuB would at least be partially opened by December 20. However, on December 22, it wrote to the Southern Railway seeking a no objection certificate (NOC) to open the carriageway below the railway lines for vehicular traffic.
“We have been awaiting a response from the Railways since then,” said a senior MSCL official on Wednesday, December 31. Asked whether MSCL followed up on the request with the railway official concerned, he said it had not.
Divisional Railway Manager of Southern Railway’s Palakkad Division Madhukar Roat told The Hindu that an NOC was not required from the Railways to open the carriageways for vehicular traffic. “All works from our side are complete,” he said. He noted that he would ask the divisional engineer concerned to act on the letter.
Mangaluru Smart City Ltd., is yet to open the twin Railway Underbridge for vehicular traffic, although officials say the work is almost complete.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY
Waiting for minister?
Sources said MSCL was awaiting the arrival of District in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao to inaugurate the ₹50.57 crore project, ₹30.7 crore from the Smart City and ₹19.87 crore from the MP Local Area Development Fund, this weekend.
However, MSCL Managing Director G. Santhosh Kumar denied the suggestion and said the Minister would not deny the invitation to inaugurate the project. On his part, Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta said he had asked the MSCL to open the facility at the earliest without waiting for any formalities.
Boxes ready in April
While the Railways completed the pushing of concrete boxes by the third week of April, heavy rains began lashing the region in the second week of May. Consequently, MSCL was unable to complete the approach road works. It only resumed in late October once the monsoon abated.
As a result, thousands of commuters travelling south of Mangaluru and toward Kerala were forced to take a detour via Pumpwell since December 2022, when the Mahakalipadpu level crossing was closed to all vehicles except two-wheelers.
Published – December 31, 2025 08:20 pm IST
