Frequent level crossing closures causing traffic disruptions; 68 trains currently running
on Konkan Railway route; Seraulim villagers raise questions about underpass efficacy
The traffic congestion near the Comba subway.
MARGAO
Will these road underpasses near the level crossings at Comba-Margao, Seraulim and Majorda, all along the Salcete stretch of the Konkan Railway line, cater to heavy vehicular traffic load when the frequency of trains are expected to increase manifold upon the completion of the ongoing track doubling project?
Well, issues plaguing the Seraulim road underpass have again brought to the fore the same old question – What has stopped the Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) or the Goa government from taking up construction of flyovers at these three busy traffic junctions for the free movement of vehicular traffic?
Besides Comba-Margao, Seraulim and Majorda underpasses, issues facing the Davorlim and Sarzora level crossings, both in Salcete, on the Konkan Railway route, remains unresolved till date for want of an underpass or a road over bridge facility.
Anxiety raised by Seraulim villagers over the efficacy of the waterlogged underpass to meet the future traffic requirements in the absence of a flyover near the level crossing is understandable.
For, the Seraulim level crossing near the Church remains shut for as many as 70 times a day to facilitate the movement of trains, bringing all vehicular traffic to a halt.
Consider this. If Konkan Railway Corporation senior official, Baban Ghatge is to be believed, around 52-plus 16 trains – 52 trains on the KR and 16 trains of South Western Railway (SWR) are presently running on the Konkan Railway route on the Salcete stretch of the railway.
Railway officials in private concede that the track doubling project will see a big rise in both passenger and freight traffic on the line between Margao and Majorda, necessitating frequent closure of the level crossings along the stretch.
This has only thrown up the oft-repeated question why has the Konkan Railway or the Goa government not initiated steps towards the construction of road over bridges at Comba-Margao, Seraulim and Majoda on priority. For, the track doubling project is nearing completion at least on the Goa sector, with officials not ruling out the possibility of additional trains, including freight trains running on the sector in the near future.
RVNL rules out flyovers at Comba, Seraulim, Majorda over jurisdiction
MARGAO: Will the Railway Board’s decision to do away with level crossing result in the construction of flyovers near the existing level crossings at Comba-Margao, Seraulim or Majorda?
This question has been repeatedly doing the rounds in Saxtti countryside in the midst of underpasses and road over bridges planned by the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd along the track doubling project.
Pose this question to RVNL officials and they will be quick to reply that they have no proposals to build flyovers at Comba, Seraulim and Majorda over the issue of jurisdiction.
In fact, senior RVNL officials say the Margao-Seraulim-Majorda stretch of the railway track already plays host to a double track and hence the RVNL has no jurisdiction over this stretch, which passes through densely populated areas and villages.
RVNL officials, however, hastened to add that nothing stops the Goa government from using its good offices with the Central government with a request to get the Railways or RVNL built flyovers at Comba, Seraulim and Majorda under the ongoing track doubling project.
For, the South Western Railway’s passenger and freight trains will be running on this stretch day in and out even though the jurisdiction of the line comes under the Konkan Railway.
“The Goa government should take the initiative with the Centre on priority to build the flyovers at Comba, Seraulim and Majorda under the track doubling project. Just because this stretch comes under the KRC jurisdiction, we do not see why the Centre will not accept Goa government’s request,” the RNVL official said.
Railway Board’s diktat to do away with level crossings for new projects
MARGAO: Railway Board’s diktat to do away with level crossings while planning new railway projects or ongoing projects may ring in good news, but for a different reason.
For, the Railway Board’s decision may result in the construction of additional flyovers and underpasses on the South Western Railway route under the track doubling project on the Goa sector.
Senior officials of the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd informed that RVNL has already built around 6-7 underpasses along the track doubling line at Sanvordem, Curchorem, Chandor, Sao Jose de Areal, with two such projects in the pipeline at Cansaulim.
Besides, the RVNL officials have claimed that the Railways has built a couple of road over bridges, including one at Areal-Curtorim-Chandor junction as part of the track doubling project. But, with the Railway Board now issuing a fresh diktat that no level crossing should be included in new railway line projects or projects already underway, the RVNL has planned two flyovers in Salcete, one at the Nessai railway crossing and another at the Davorlim level crossing. Incidentally, though the Davorlim railway crossing comes under the Konkan Railway line, the RVNL has planned to take up a road overbridge at the Davorlim level crossing since it has laid the double track alongside the Konkan Railway track.
30 years on, Justice Oza panel’s recommendations for footbridges to assist school children loses its relevance
MARGAO: Recommendations made by the one-man commission headed by Justice C J Oza build necessary footbridges for school children to cross along the Konkan Railway seemed to have lost its relevance thirty years later.
The one-man commission was appointed by the Centre to study the issues raised by protesters demanding re-alignment of the Konkan Railway line from passing through the eco-sensitive and densely populated areas of Salcete and Mormugao.
In fact, not just the footbridge built around two decades ago, but even the road underpass built two years ago near the Seraulim level crossing has failed to cater to the growing requirements.
Seraulim villagers pointed out that the footbridge over the railway tracks was never used by the locals since it was built over two decades ago. In fact, locals claimed the footbridge has been used for anti-social elements and for drying of clothes.
Ex-Seraulim panchayat member Kevin D’Souza said the footbridge and underpass concepts have outlived its utility in the present contest with manifold rise in vehicular traffic. “A flyover at the existing Seraulim underpass may help tide over the issues,” he said.
