Traffic Gridlock Plagues Huligi Village Due to Delayed ROB Construction
The prolonged delay in constructing a Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Munirabad railway station, adjacent to Huligi village in Koppal district, has escalated into a severe traffic crisis, disrupting the lives of residents and thousands of devotees who flock to the renowned Huligemma Devi Temple.
Devotee Influx and Railway Crossing Bottleneck
Huligemma Devi Temple, one of north Karnataka's most popular shrines, attracts an impressive 4 to 6 lakh devotees during monthly full moon days (Hunnime). Additionally, thousands visit every Tuesday and Friday, considered auspicious days, leading to hundreds of vehicles converging on the village. The level crossing gate (LCG) No. 79 near the temple has become a critical bottleneck, triggering frequent and extensive traffic jams throughout Huligi and its surrounding areas.
According to South Western Railway (SWR) plans, LCG No. 79 was scheduled for closure in the 2025–26 financial year. Sources indicate that an ROB was commissioned from January 2024 to replace LCG No. 72, with the closure of LCG 79 being one of 30 such projects currently underway under SWR jurisdiction.
Community Concerns and Political Intervention
Pampapati Rati, president of the Jan Shakti Horata Samiti in Huligi, highlighted the severity of the situation. "Whenever the gate closes for five to eight minutes, over 1,000 vehicles line up on both sides, particularly on Tuesdays and Fridays," he explained. "On full moon days, traffic backups extend for kilometers." During a recent meeting of temple devotees attended by MP Rajashekhar Hitnal, the MP committed to ensuring the ROB's completion within a month.
However, Rati emphasized that the ROB alone may not fully resolve the issue. "Its dropping point is unscientific. From there, the state government must undertake road widening projects to ensure smooth traffic flow," he added.
Impact on Education and Daily Commutes
The traffic congestion is severely affecting children's education in Huligi. Ningaraj Kataraki, a local businessman, noted that trains pass through the area almost every hour or half-hour. "If the gate is closed for 8 to 10 minutes, it takes at least half an hour to clear the accumulated traffic. By then, the gate often closes again for another train," he described.
This disruption causes daily delays for buses carrying students and school buses, making it difficult to reach schools and colleges, especially on Tuesdays and Fridays. Many students face prolonged delays before exams, prompting demands for SWR to expedite the ROB construction.
Infrastructure Deficiencies at Munirabad Station
Munirabad railway station, which experiences heavy passenger traffic from temple visitors and serves as a key maize loading station within SWR limits, suffers from inadequate maintenance. Rati pointed out several deficiencies: "There is no maintenance of the garden, no toilets, no lift facility or escalator, and the drinking water facility is defunct."
Efforts to obtain comments from SP Praveen, the public relations officer for SWR's Hubballi division, were unsuccessful. The community continues to await urgent action to alleviate the traffic chaos and improve infrastructure, underscoring the critical need for timely project completion and coordinated efforts between railway and state authorities.
