Mangaluru: An ongoing work of road over bridge (RoB) near Bondel-Pachanady railway track, has been causing a lot of inconvenience to the public since the last eight months. As the old RoB is demolished, vehicles are forced to ply through another road, where a railway gate restricts the movement of traffic.
Earlier, there was no disruption of any kind for the vehicular movement as there was an old RoB at the same place. But it was demolished for the construction of the new one in the month of February, as there was a plan of doubling the track. Though RoB was demolished, assuring that a new one would be constructed immediately, work was not commenced immediately after the demolition. Though some work was started, it was stalled due to rain. After rain stopped, the work on the construction of new RoB has been started now.
In order to facilitate vehicular movement, the Railway department has opened a new road adjacent to the place. However, when goods and passenger trains ply on the track, the railway department prevents the vehicular movement by placing a railway gate. Hence, vehicles need to wait at least 10 to 15 minutes, until the gate opens. As over 40 trains including goods train ply on this railway track everyday, the railway gatekeepers need to close and open the gate every time.
Though route number 19, 13 and 3 number buses travel on the same stretch, they cut their trip, as they need to wait for a long time due to this railway gate. An elderly person Devu Madivala, aged around 70 was found waiting for the bus near the railway track at Bondel-Pachanady under the scorching sun. When asked where he wanted to go, he informed that he wanted to go to Bondel. “I am waiting for the bus from nearly half-an-hour. There is no sign of it. When will the bus come?” Later he was told by others that the bus trip was cancelled. As buses and other vehicles need to wait for long time due to this railway gate, school children and office goers are not able to reach their destination on time.
Autorickshaw drivers lament reduced income
The local autorickshaw drivers informed that their income had also reduced after the road was cut by the railway department. Ramu, an autorickshaw driver of Padavinangady said that the maximum time in his working hour gets wasted as he is forced to wait for long at the railway gate. “We are eagerly waiting for the new RoB to come up. Though we are not against the development works, there should be a proper plan before undertaking any project”, he said.
Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer, when contacted admitted that he had no any idea about when the work of new RoB would be completed. “As the work has been undertaken by the railway department, we are not directly involved. However, we will insist on speedy completion of work“, he said.
Work to be completed before next March
Southern Railway Additional Engineer Gopichandran Nayak told Newskarnataka that due to heavy rain, the construction work was stopped. “However, the work has been started now and will be completed before next March.
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