Track laying in CB Pur may render thousands homeless

Work on Kolar-Chikkaballapur rail link picks up pace

The residents of Chikkaballapur are under danger of losing thier homes as Kolar-Chikkaballapur railway line work has picked up pace.

These houses, including the government school is situated adjacent to the railway line. Though the residents were promised of alternative facilities, nothing has been done in this regard.

But some of the residents have already recieved notice to vacate the house.

On the other hand,work of laying railway line is on in full swing for the Chikkaballapur-Kolar railway line.

Workers are toiling day and night to lay the track. Piles of crushed stones are found all along the route of the new railway line. Officials are visiting the work sites to ensure hassle-free work on the railway line.

While some are happy with the work progress, others - like residents of Chamarajpet and Ambedkar Colony are a worried lot. The Railway department has issued notices to the house owners to vacate the houses within the stipulated date.

“There are 300 houses in the area and thousands of us who are residing here for a long time stand to lose our shelters. How can we vacate the houses all of a sudden? Where will we go?,” ask the residents.

No alternative 

While the railway authorities want the occupants to vacate its land, the residents want alternative arrangements to be made before being asked to go.

Union Minister for Railways, K H Muniyappa, had in the past intervened and had directed Deputy Commissioner N Manjula and MLA K P Bachegowda to provide alternative sites and homes for the displaced. The residents, who had heaved a sigh of relief after the minister’s assurance, are now worried after being issued the notices.

The residents, most of whom are labourers, say that Muniyappa had told them that the eviction process would begin only after alternative housing is provided to them. But the sudden eviction notices have come as a bolt from the blue for them.