A tense meeting between Velsao residents and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) officials took place at the Velsao- Pale – Isorsim panchayat office on Monday, following mounting complaints over blocked access routes caused by railway expansion work.
This marks the first time RVNL has attended a village panchayat meeting to discuss the issue with villagers since they began opposing the double-tracking project.
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After the villagers firmly voiced their concerns, the RVNL officials reconsidered their stance and assured the Panchayat that
In the meantime, the Panchayat has directed RVNL to promptly remove the mud fill dumped in front of residents’ houses and restore their right of way.
At the meeting with RVNL, three different groups of citizens presented their concerns. The first group consisted of residents from Primeirovaddo, Velsao, and Pale, living to the right of level crossing 26, facing the sea. The second group comprised residents of Primeirovaddo who reside to the left of level crossing 26. The third group included residents from Issorcim.
The panchayat reiterated its stance, emphasizing that its order remained valid and instructing RVNL to remove the mud obstructing traditional access paths to homes situated opposite the railway track.
To accommodate all affected residents, the meeting was held in multiple sessions, allowing villagers from different areas to present their grievances.
“In the meantime, we have requested RVNL to halt all work and submit proper land ownership documents if they have them. Additionally, we have urged them to remove the piles of soil that have been dumped in front of people’s houses, as it is causing serious obstruction. If a fire were to break out, even the fire brigade would not be able to reach the affected houses. Ideally, South Western Railway should have first addressed the issue of an alternative road before starting this project, but unfortunately, they failed to do so ” Said Diana.
