GUIRDOLIM: The Guirdolim gram sabha demanded that the panchayat raise strong objections to the letter it had received from the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), justifying the closure of the railway level crossing.
The role played by PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral and former Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias were also criticised given that the Railways had not stuck to their promises regarding the construction of the subway.
The locals recalled how a few years ago, at a meeting, Dias had told them that the Rail Over Bridge at the site was not possible and how they should go for the Rail underpass instead. Cabral, who is still the PWD Minister, had also given assurances that the subway would not create any problems and would be as per what the people wanted.
The locals pointed out that they are the ones who are facing numerous difficulties now that the level crossing is closed despite what Cabral and Dias had claimed.
The recent reply sent by the RVNL to the panchayat was scrutinised. Given that the subway has a height of 2.68 mts and not 2.80 mts as promised, the panchayat had written to various authorities including RVNL asking that the level crossing be opened and that the additional issues with the subway were causing hardships to the locals.
“RVNL is now saying that they had consulted the panchayat but this is not true. We were not consulted about the change in height,” said a local.
Others also pointed out that the Railways had failed to live up to other promises regarding the subway plan and questioned why the footpaths on the side of the subway were not built or why the two pumps for the water issue were not installed. The fact that the subway is not maintained with potholes in and around it and also the failure to provide the underpass with any illumination was also highlighted.
The panchayat was advised to also seek legal opinion before sending out a strong written objection to RVNL’s letter.
While the locals acknowledged the steps taken to address the issue, they added that the District Collector should also revoke the permission that was granted to close the level crossing in order to get the level crossing open again.
In a related matter, Sarpanch Sonia Fernandes added that they would issue NOCs to the Railways anymore.
Another villager also said RVNL is yet to answer why six tracks have been built in Guirdolim.
It was also pointed out that ROB between Sao Jose De Areal and Curtorim is at a distance from Guirdolim and is not the solution to the local residents.
