MARGAO
The Chandor railway level crossing was on Monday permanently closed to vehicular traffic.
As per the notice issued by the South Western Railway last week, workers engaged by the railways descended at the level crossing on Monday morning to shut the crossing.
In fact, the workers first dug the road on both sides of the crossing before erecting permanent barriers to prevent vehicles from crossing the level crossing.
Cuncolim MLA & Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao had made a request to the railway authorities to defer the proposed closure of the railway crossing on the plea that the decision will cause total inconvenience to school children, devotees going to church, locals from Guirdolim visiting the market and others.
In fact, Yuri has demanded that both the underpass and the level crossing should be kept operational.
Railway officials, however, said the notice was issued for the permanent closure of the railway crossing after obtaining NOC from the District Collector.
Railway officials pointed out that the manned railway crossing at Chandor can no longer be kept open when the railways have built a road underpass and a road overbridge to Chandor.
“Railways deployed around three staffers to man the manned level crossing. By permanently closing the level crossing, the railways will save money on manpower,” an official said, adding that the road underpass and the road overbridge will meet the requirements of the residents of Chandor and Guirdolim villages.
