Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 19: The people living in Neermarga and neighbourhood in the city have been demanding for the last five decades for a railway underpass on Adyar - Neermarga road in the outskirts of the city. But so far, their demand has not been met. Even though the plan is sanctioned, it has not been executed. Even now, the people cross the same through the unauthorised railway crossing

People of Adyar have been striving to get level crossing since the last five decades. After Adyar Neermarga Road Action Committee began to apply pressure for the crossing, the then railway minister, Bansilal, had sanctioned level crossing with security. In his letter written to the then MP B Janardhan Poojary, Bansilal said that the centre will foot the bill for this project.

Even the letter written to the then president of the committee, Ramachandra Rao, by the southern railway general manager at Chennai said that the crossing has been sanctioned and the divisional manager of Mysuru will execute the project. Then the railway department said it would execute the work once the transformation into broad gauge is completed.

Now the people have been demanding for an underpass instead of level crossing. The railway department has not sanctioned funds for this project. The cost should be met through the local area development funds of the MLA, MP and gram panchayat.

This is the road for thousands of people to go anywhere. In the year 2007, an effort to build a fence for the level crossing was made but the locals protested. The then deputy commissioner of the district, Ponnuraj, had visited the spot and taken the railway officials to task. For the people of several villages, this is the connecting road. 100 metres on both sides of the road is kutcha road and the railway department is not allowing proper roads to be laid there.

So far this level crossing has claimed three lives. Now, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, has promised to discuss with the next meeting of officials and find a lasting solution for the problem.