lSWR officials say no permissions obtained by PWD l PWD says permission not required as work is minor l PWD officials rush to Hubli to get approvalsl Work likely to resume after sewage pipe is replaced
TEAM HERALD
VASCO: A confrontation between the South Central Railways (SCR) and the PWD (roads division) has virtually derailed the road excavation work under the railway bridge near St Andrew’s Junction in Vasco.
The SCR on Tuesday stopped the road excavation work to lay interlocking heavy duty pavers under the railway bridge on grounds that the PWD (roads division) had not obtained permission from railways authorities.
The PWD had begun the road excavation work to lay interlocking heavy duty pavers, to prevent the road below the bridge from developing potholes like it does every monsoon season.
However, when officials of the Vasco Railway Station got wind of this, they rushed to the site and stoped the work.
When contacted, Vasco Railway Station Master T Silvan informed that the land under the railway bridge belongs to the SCR and the PWD had failed to obtain necessary permissions from railway authorities.
“The railways used to allow road asphalting work, whenever needed. But for any major work, such as excavation of the road in our property, the authorities concerned are expected to obtain permission from the SCR office in Hubli,” he added.
On the other hand, PWD Assistant Engineer Ibrahim claimed that they were merely repairing the road.
However, sources in the PWD division informed Herald that the junior engineers from PWD roads division and PWD sewage division rushed to Hubli in the wee hours of Wednesday to seek permission.
