THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
Agitating locals in Velsao have demanded immediate intervention from Railway authorities to ensure an access road to nearly 20 houses, after alleging that railway double-tracking work on Wednesday had left several families effectively landlocked.
Residents and local leaders addressed the media, maintaining that they are not opposed to development but cannot accept a project that deprives them of access to their homes. According to the protesters, the additional railway track has cut off vehicular access to around 20 houses, forcing residents to walk long distances. They said ambulances, fire tenders and other emergency vehicles are now unable to reach the affected houses, posing a serious threat, particularly to senior citizens living in the area.
The protest intensified when trucks carrying ballast stones and earth-moving machinery arrived to begin bedding work for the second railway track adjacent to several heritage houses.
The villagers alleged that the work was undertaken without providing an alternative access route, thereby denying them their fundamental right of way and isolating them from the rest of the village.
The residents also referred to a petition earlier submitted by senior citizens led by Max De Souza before the Deputy Collector of Mormugao. During a joint meeting attended by the Deputy Collector, Talathi, Mamlatdar, officials of the Inspector of Survey and Land Records (ISLR), Railway authorities, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and villagers, it was reportedly recorded that the Railways had failed to produce documents establishing ownership of the land adjoining the existing railway track.
According to the villagers, the Deputy Collector had directed RVNL to furnish all relevant land records, acquisition details, title documents and a plan to ensure access to the affected residents before any work that could block their approach road. The ISLR was also instructed to conduct a joint site inspection and submit a survey report. However, the protesters alleged that neither has RVNL produced the required title documents nor has the ISLR completed the survey as directed.
Despite a heavy police presence, the protesters prevented fresh dumping of ballast stones at the site by standing in front of the trucks. As a result, no additional dumping was carried out.
The villagers reiterated that they are not against railway development but insisted that public infrastructure projects should not come at the cost of people's safety, constitutional rights and access to their homes. They appealed to the State government, railway authorities and RVNL to visit the site and provide an immediate solution.
