Activists demand halt for all passenger trains at Bijoor Railway Station and renaming it Mookambika Railway Station

Villagers from Bijoor, Uppunda, Kergalu, Nandanavana, Kanchikanu, Khambadakone, Heranjalu and surrounding areas, led by Bijoor Railway Yatrikara Horata Samiti and in collaboration with various organisations, staged a sit-in at Bijoor Railway Station in Byndoor taluk on Sunday, demanding that trains going to Mumbai, Mangaluru, and Bengaluru be given halt at Bijoor.

Addressing the protesters, samiti president Sunil Poojary said there is no need to give extra time to stop trains at Bijoor. Already, 10-12 passenger trains stop at Bijoor daily for crossing. If passengers are allowed to board and alight from those trains, the infrastructure at Bijoor station will be put to good use.

Activist Subrahmanya Bhat said when the railway board has given halt to trains the at nearby Byndoor Station, a halt station without any loop lines for even five minutes, level crossing gates have to be closed from Shirur to Bijur inconveniencing road users. If trains are given halt at Bijoor, a crossing can be done here. Despite Byndoor being in a technically disadvantageous position, the railway board provides halts to trains at this station.

Addressing the protesters, Byndoor MLA Gururaja Gantihole said he would pay special attention to the demands of the protesters.

Activists staging a sit-in demanding full-station status to Bijoor recently.
| Photo Credit:
UMESH S. SHETTIGAR

Mr. Sunil Poojary further said the Railway Ministry has fulfilled the dream of the country’s development by providing new and modern trains to all parts of the country. But even though Bijoor Railway Station is a well-equipped station including a loop line, it has been of no use for this area since 1996. About 48 acres of fertile agricultural land of the farmers of Bijoor area was acquired for Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., But now it is of no use to people. If KRCL does not develop Bijoor into a full-fledged station, it should return the acquired lands to farmers, he demanded.

Protesters also demanded naming Bijoor as Mookambika Railway Station, Bijoor, as it is just 27 km from Kollur, the pilgrim centre.