Solution to traffic snarls at Comba railway level crossing remains distant dream

File photo of traffic snarls at the Comba railway crossing.

MARGAO

Repair work of the Comba subway by the PWD ahead of the new financial year to pave way for smooth travel of commuters heading to the educational institutions may ring in good news for the student community.

A long-term solution to tide over the traffic snarls at the Comba railway level crossing, however, still remains a distant dream with the flyover proposal yet to find favour either with the state government or with the Union Surface Transport Ministry.

Even as the Goa government through the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) is bracing up to build the six-lane Rawanfond bridge at an estimated cost of over Rs 54 crore, the T-shape flyover designed by the PWD and in principle agreed by the Railways is awaiting dedicated funding to the tune of Rs 100 crore.

A senior PWD Official told The Goan that the detailed estimate for the T-shape flyover at the Comba railway crossing will be prepared only after the department receives signal either from the Goa government or the Centre pledging funds for the construction of the bridge.

 “Preliminary estimates suggests that it may cost the exchequer around Rs 100-odd crore to build the T-shape flyover. The design of the flyover has been drawn by the PWD and has been agreed in principle by the railways. The plan will remain a plan till it is executed by the Goa government or by the Centre”, the official said.

Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has taken up the project with Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari with a plea to fund the flyover. Kamat, however, said that the Minister will take a call on the funding of the project in due course of time.

In fact, the Margao MLA is banking on his close relationship with Union Minister Nitin GadkarI to bring the required money to fund the flyover project. “I have briefed the Union Minister about the flyover project at the Comba railway crossing and how it will help the entire area considered the city’s educational hub”, Kamat said, as he has pinned his hopes on the Union Minister to fund the flyover project.

With around 70-odd trains running on the Konkan Railway tracks passing through Margao city, the Comba railway crossing is being closed for around 70 times a day for the moment,.  With the railways planning to run additional long distance trains and the South Western railway set to increase the freight trains after the commissioning of the Vasco-Hospet track doubling project, locals fear that the Comba subway will not be able to bear the traffic load when the railway crossing is closed for traffic especially during peak hours.

In fact, even officials admit in private that the Comba subway has outlived its utility since the time it was commissioned a little over a decade ago. “No doubt, the subway plays its crucial role and partly meets the requirements of the student community when the railway crossing is closed for traffic. But, when 70 trains run on the tracks and the level crossing is closed for traffic 70 time a days, the subway struggles to ensure smooth vehicular traffic”, the official added.

In fact, a senior official pointed out that the government ought to have planned a flyover around half a decade ago and take up the construction with budgetary support. “Even if the government manages to start work on the project later this  year, it will take around two more years to complete and commission the bridge”, the official added.