MARGAO
In a major development, Rail Vikas Nigan Ltd (RVNL) has decided to postpone until further notice the work on laying of double track at the Davorlim railway level crossing scheduled for November 9.
Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd General Manager (Project) has conveyed the decision to the South Goa district Collector, Ajit Roy via a letter on November 5.
In the letter, the RVNL general manager (project) has pointed out that the level crossing work permission at Davorlim for execution of track laying work was obtained from the office of the district Collector dated October 26. However, due to operational constraints the work is postponed until further notice, the letter states.
While the RVNL general manager has written the letter to the district Collector, South, sources said senior police officials have also been informed about the decision of the postponement of the work scheduled for November 9 at 00.00 hours to 05.00 hour.
When contacted, South Goa district Collector, Ajit Roy confirmed that his office has received a letter from the RVNL informing about the postponement of the work. “I had issued the permission to the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd to undertake the work at the three railway crossings as per their application. It was purely for the RNVL to take a call whether to take up the work or not,” he added.
RVNL’s decision comes just three days before the planned work was scheduled at the Davorlim railway crossing on the intervening night of November 8-9.
The RVNL had on October 26 obtained permission from the South Goa district Magistrate, Ajit Roy for closure of roads to lay the double track at the level crossings at Nessai, Chandor and Davorlim.
While the Railways laid the double track at the Nessai level crossing on October 28 amidst protests from organizations, the RVNL did not take up work at the Chandor railway crossing on November 2. However, thousands of anti-track doubling and coal transportation protestors had poured in at Chandor on the intervening night of November 1-2 from all parts of the state to stop the work.
The postponement of the laying of the double track at the Davorlim railway crossing on November 9 further assumes significance as the organizations opposing double tracking as well as political parties and leaders had given a call to oppose the planned work at Davorlim on the intervening night of November 8-9.
