JOIN USWith the district administration’s response to the proposal of the Railways on the closure of level crossings being dull, the project has remained only on paper in Dakshina Kannada district.
To avoid the accidents at level crossings, the Railways had proposed the closure of seven level crossings in the district. The elimination of all level crossings from the railway landscape within the next five years as a measure of avoiding accidents and deaths is one of the key recommendations of the High Level Safety Review Committee by Anil Kakodkar that submitted its report to the Ministry of Railways in 2012. Accordingly, the Railways had prepared a proposal on closure of level crossing to avoid accidents.
In a recently held meeting of the railway officials, chaired by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Mysuru Railway Divisional Commercial Manager Halappa had said, “The Railways have proposed to close down seven railway level crossings in Dakshina Kannada. The Mysuru division had written to the district administration to submit a certificate after inspecting the spots. The district administration, however, has failed to inspect the spots and write to the Railways on the closure of the crossings.”
An official from the Railways in Puttur said, “The closure of level crossings has been proposed at Kodimbala, Mura, Edamangala, Sunkadakatte, Kalladka, Farangipete and Valacchil. The Railways should make alternative arrangement for the people to cross by way of railway underbridge or overbridge. Before the Railways take up the work on alternative arrangement, the district administration – under the guidance of the deputy commissioner – is required to submit a certification to the Railways giving a nod for the closure of level crossings. No action, however, has been initiated by the district administration in this regard.”
Estimate prepared
In Farangipete, the Railways had prepared an estimate for the construction of an approach road for the commuters to cross after the closure of level crossings.
Without the nod from the district administration, the work could not be initiated.
Sudarshan Puttur of Kukke Shree Subramanya-Mangalore Railway Commuters Forum, Puttur, said, “With the district administration failing to inspect the spot and write to the Railways on closure of the land, the proposal on closure of level crossing could not be materialised in Dakshina Kannada.”
“The deputy commissioner agreed to ensure that the public do not create any problem after an alternative arrangement is made by the Railways and the level crossing is closed down. In Puttur and Sullia, there are confusions over the border of railway and revenue land which needs to be sorted out before the closure of level crossing,” he explained.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, “The issue of closure of level crossing has been raised in the railway meeting for the last two years. The local authorities should respond to the works of Railways.”
DH News Service