MARGAO
After Chandor, residents of Sao Jose de Areal got the railway authorities to stop work on the painting of the new station at Ralloi on Tuesday morning.
The residents led by activist Freddy Travasso questioned the contractor carrying out the work of painting of the station built recently, demanding to know how the work could continue when the Sao Jose de Areal panchayat had issued a stop-work notice to stop the ongoing works.
When the residents led by Freddy visited the site of the railway station at Ralloi in Areal village, they found scaffolding erected at the building for the painting work.
Freddy questioned the contractor for the decision to carry out the work when the panchayat has issued a stop-work order. He told the contractor to take a close look at the order pasted on the station building and dismantle the scaffolding.
While the contractor stopped the work, Railway officials are believed to have come to the Sao Jose de Areal village panchayat with documents pertaining to the land acquisition and ownership.
A senior railway official told The Goan that the officials have submitted the land acquisition and ownership documents to the panchayat around noon, hoping that work at the station in will commence from Wednesday.
Outgoing Sarpanch Vincy Mascarenhas informed that the panchayat has received some documents from the Railways, saying the local body would scrutinize the documents before taking further action.
Activist Freddy, however, asserted that the Railways cannot start work at the Ralloi railway station without a nod from the panchayat. “How can the railways resume work when the Panchayat is yet to give the nod. As of now, the stop-work order notice issued by the panchayat is still in force at the site,” he added.
Chandor villagers had on Monday stopped dozens of material-laden heavy trucks from proceeding to the double-tracking spot after invoking the order of the South Goa District Collector issued around 7-8 years ago, prohibiting plying of heavy vehicles in the heritage village.
