Guirdolim locals’ hopes get a boost as South Goa Collector recommends that RVNL opens level crossing in ‘public interest’

MARGAO: In a major boost to the people of Guirdolim, who have been suffering due to the closure of the railway level crossing (LC), the South Goa District Collector Asvin Chandru has recommended that the State government asks Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to reconsider opening the LC in public interest.

He conveyed this in an official note sent to the Home Department’s Joint Secretary on August 30.

“All the requests are examined by this office and it’s noted that the request of the general public to open the said LC, needs to be considered in larger public interest especially to facilitate plying of emergency service vehicles, school buses etc. Therefore, it is requested to refer the matter to the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety, Lucknow and RVNL General Manager (GM) for the opening of the LC 18 at Chandor in view of the genuine reasons given by the general public,” Chandru said. 

Earlier, the Collector referred to the letter sent by the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Yuri Alemao on August 7 for opening of the manned gate of LC 18 to him and the Chief Minister.  

He added that he had also received letters sent to him in May by the St Joseph Educational Institute Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and Guirdolim Sarpanch, which were subsequently forwarded to the RVNL GM in May and again in June for taking necessary action. 

Chandru then referred to the reply sent by RVNL to the Guirdolim Sarpanch and his office but observed that ‘no decision was conveyed whether LC 18 will be opened or not’.

Guirdolim panchayat still hopeful

The Guirdolim village panchayat has demanded that the railway level crossing (LC) be opened again and that the Railways have not recognised the numerous problems that the villagers have been facing and how the alternate solutions being referred to by the railways is not feasible either. 

It may be recalled that like the Guirdolim gram sabha, the Chandor gram sabha had also passed resolutions for reopening the LC gate. 

To take this issue forward, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Yuri Alemao, along with the Sarpanchas of Guirdolim and Chandor and others, including the head of the local school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA), met Chief Minister (CM) Pramod Sawant at the Secretariat. 

“At this meeting, we briefed the CM about how this issue has been causing an inconvenience to the people and he assured that he would look into it and the district collector has already issued a note in this regard. I will take this matter to its logical conclusion so that their demand for opening the level crossing gate goes through,” said Alemao. 

The Cuncolim MLA also rebuffed the claims of the Railways that keeping the level crossing open when the subway was constructed was not feasible. 

“In South Goa only, we have three places where there is a railway crossing gate and a subway nearby. This is in Margao, Majorda and Utorda, so why can’t it happen here too,” he added. 

The LoP also spoke about how school-going children are affected, as their bus, which is unable to go through the underpass, has to travel a couple of kms extra to reach the school. 

Guirdolim Sarpanch Sonia Fernandes added that people who want to access the Church, Temple, cemetery, healthcare facilities, police outpost, panchayat ghar, power department’s office and other places have too been affected. 

Her main concern was that people facing medical emergencies are suffering as ambulances can’t access the subway and are thereby delayed.  She added that buses or cranes of the power department can’t pass through either and that even cars moving in opposite directions have difficulty passing through the subway smoothly. “People’s routines have been disrupted,” she added. 

She lamented that the subway has divided Guirdolim village into two, as the subway cut out one portion of the village. 

Fernandes also referred to how RVNL didn’t stick to the promises of the 2.8 mts height of the subway or constructing footpaths on both sides. The Sarpanch added that the subway road and illumination has to be repaired too.

“Railways is also talking about the road-over-bridge, but that is not in our village and is a far away. It lies on the border of Sao Jose De Areal village and Curtorim,” said Fernandes. 

Railways remains steadfast in keeping level crossing closed

MARGAO: Igonring the pleas of Guirdolim locals, the  Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has offered a sharp rebuke to the letter sent by the Guirdolim panchayat and insisted that the railway level crossing (LC) 18 in the village would remain closed.

RVNL General Manager (GM) pointed out the Railway Board instructed to close LCs in locations that are potentially prone to safety hazards in view of railway and road users’ interactions. He said LC 18 is surrounded with a developed area, large number of houses nearby and has a ‘Y’ junction within 100 metres.

The RVNL pointed out that a Road-Over-Bridge (ROB) at this location was not feasible.   

The RVNL recalled that in consultationwith the State government and the panchayat, it was unanimously decided to construct a Limited Height Subway Road-Under-Bridge (RUB) adjacent to the LC and an ROB approximately 2 kms from the LC, due to the existing site constraints.

The subway, RNVL added, was specifically constructed for road users of 2-wheelers and 4-wheelers only for inter village movements.

RVNL justified the subway’s height and said considering the high-water table adjacent to it, a vertical clearance greater than 2.68 mts was not possible.

Referring to how with the present height, there has been 25 to 50 mm of water layer stagnation during the peak rainy season, RVNL warned that any increase in the height would result in additional stagnation of equivalent depth of water beyond 50 mm, which could create unsafe conditions for vehicular and pedestrian movement.

“Hence, the clear height provided of 2.68 m was found more suitable according to the site conditions, which is sufficient for any light motor vehicle to pass through smoothly,” said the GM.

He added that even if the height was raised to 2.8 mts, as demanded by the panchayat, ambulances would still not have been able to pass through as they need 3.1 mts vertical clearance.

RVNL asserted that with the South Goa District Hospital and private hospitals available in Margao, those who need to commute for medical emergencies can use the district road for Chandor road via ROB 225 A and the Guirdolim village road to Margao.  

“Also, considering the fact that previously with the LC gate closed during train operations, would not have allowed access in case of medical emergencies even for hours and could have been fatal. Considering the present situation with the commissioning of both RUB and ROB, any medical situation can be taken care of without any interruptions,” the GM added.

RVNL also emphasized that they had obtained all permissions and had given adequate notice for closing the LC.

“In place of LC 18, one RUB and one ROB (225 A) will definitely increase road safety and reduce time due to less traffic congestions. Hence considering the water table of the locality and the safety of the road users, the feasible size of the underpass is provided near the level crossing,” the GM concluded.