Puttur, 13 August 2026: A demand for a scheduled halt of the proposed Bengaluru–Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express at Kabaka–Puttur Railway Station has gained attention, with both the Dakshina Kannada District Railway Users group and Machchimale Virupaksha Bhat making separate appeals through Facebook posts. The demand has also found support among other Puttureans, who are calling for a halt at Kabaka–Puttur to benefit passengers from Puttur and surrounding areas.
In its Facebook post, the Dakshina Kannada District Railway Users group argued that Kabaka–Puttur serves a large passenger catchment extending beyond Puttur town and urged the Railway authorities to examine the feasibility of providing a halt when the regular Vande Bharat service is introduced.
In a separate Facebook post, Machchimale Virupaksha Bhat also raised the question of why the proposed Vande Bharat should stop at Kabaka–Puttur. He highlighted the dependence of people from Puttur, Kadaba, Sullia and surrounding areas on Bengaluru and Mangaluru for education, employment, business and healthcare.
Demand for a short halt
According to the railway users' group, Kabaka–Puttur is an important railway access point for passengers from a wider hinterland of Dakshina Kannada, including areas around Puttur, Sullia, Uppinangady, Vittla and Bellare.
The group said existing Bengaluru-bound trains passing through Kabaka–Puttur demonstrate established passenger demand from the region. It argued that a Vande Bharat halt would allow passengers to access the faster premium service without having to travel by road to another railway station.
Virupaksha Bhat, in his Facebook post, similarly said that students travelling to Bengaluru and Mangaluru, professionals working in Bengaluru, businesspersons and patients seeking medical treatment in the two cities could benefit from a halt. He suggested that the Railway authorities examine the possibility of a one- to two-minute commercial halt, subject to timetable and operational feasibility.
Wider passenger catchment
The railway users' group stressed that the demand should not be viewed as being limited to Puttur town. It said Kabaka–Puttur serves passengers from a much larger region and that a halt could improve access to Bengaluru for people from several rural and semi-urban areas.
The group also pointed to the tourism and pilgrimage potential of the region, including destinations such as Mahatobhara Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple, Vittla Shri Panchalingeshwara Temple and Shri Kshethra Gejjegiri.
Appeal to Railway authorities
Both posts appealed to railway authorities and elected representatives to consider the demand while finalising the timetable and stoppages for the proposed service.
Dakshina Kannada District Railway Users group appealed to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, Southwestern Railway, the DRM, Mysuru Division, and Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta to take up the issue with the Railway Board and examine the feasibility of a Kabaka–Puttur halt.
Virupaksha Bhat also appealed to the Railway Minister, Railway authorities and MP Captain Brijesh Chowta to consider the demand in the interest of passengers from Puttur and surrounding areas.
With the proposed Bengaluru–Mangaluru Vande Bharat service currently undergoing trial runs, the two Facebook posts have brought the question of a Kabaka–Puttur halt into the local public discussion.
Whether the Railway authorities will consider the demand will depend on passenger demand, timetable requirements, sectional capacity and operational feasibility.
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