Bhatkal railway station (station code: BTJL) is a railway station serving the town of Bhatkal in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India. It lies on the Konkan Railway route, which connects Mumbai with Mangaluru along India's western coast.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Station name | Bhatkal |
| Station code | BTJL |
| Location | Bhatkal, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka |
| Country | India |
| Line | Konkan Railway (Roha–Thokur) |
| Operator | Konkan Railway Corporation |
| Zone | Konkan Railway |
The station is one of several stops along the Karnataka segment of the Konkan Railway, providing rail access to the coastal town of Bhatkal and surrounding taluk. It is positioned between the stations on the stretch running from Karwar in the north to Mangaluru Junction in the south.
The Konkan Railway, on which Bhatkal station lies, was built by the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, a public sector undertaking constituted in 1990. The 741-kilometre line linking Roha in Maharashtra with Thokur near Mangaluru was commissioned for full traffic in 1998, opening rail connectivity along the western coast through districts that previously lacked direct rail links. Bhatkal, a historic port town on the Karnataka coast, was integrated into the national rail network through this project.
The station handles a mix of express and passenger services operating along the Konkan corridor, connecting the town to destinations including Mumbai, Madgaon, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and other points on the Konkan Railway and beyond.
Bhatkal station provides the principal rail link for the town and its hinterland, supplementing road connectivity along National Highway 66. It serves both regular commuters and passengers travelling for trade, education, and pilgrimage in the coastal Karnataka region, including visitors to the Jain and Hindu heritage sites in and around Bhatkal.