VASCO: The Mormugao Municipal Council Councillor Krishna (Daji) Salkar along with another Councillor Rochana Borkar met Vasco Station Master and demanded to restart the Vasco-Collem local train for the welfare of general public.
Salkar, in a written letter to the Chairman of Railway Board, New Delhi, urged to consider his plea.
He mentioned that on behalf of the people of Mormugao Taluka I would humbly request the railway authority to commence the train from Vasco to Collem and back on priority basis as its absence has been causing a lot of hardship to the public, who were travelling on a daily basis in the above trains earlier.
“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the train was in operation and used to cater to thousands of people who used to take the benefit of the same. But the local train was discontinued during the pandemic increasing the troubles of the public, who have already been mentally and financially exhausted by the COVID situation,” he said.
He requested the Chairman of Railway Board, New Delhi, to take up the matter and resume the local train at the earliest, by following proper protocols so that the hardships faced by the general public are reduced.
Meanwhile, Salkar has put forth one more request before the Railway Board that is for slowing of the train speed from Vasco-da-Gama Railway Station to Dabolim Railway Station. During the last two-three months and even before that there have seen several accidents happening along this stretch wherein cattle were either killed or injured with permanent disability as there is no place nearby other than People For Animal at New Vaddem to keep these wounded cows.
“The PFA themselves have very limited resources and infrastructure in treating them resulting in loss of lives and pain to the mute animals,” Salkar stated.
“Moreover, in the absence of any proper treatment facility, these cows have to be shifted to far off places like Betul where the NGO Dhyana Foundation has got better facilities for treatment. Transporting them far off place takes time and effort and causes immense pain and danger to the lives of the innocent animals,” he added.
“I had discussed the above matter with the Chief Officer, MMC to control and penalise the owners of the cattle who leave them in the open, unattended and in the process the innocent animals lose their lives or suffer with injuries and disabilities,” he said.
It may be recalled that recently some social activists and the people working in various offices in Vasco, who live outside the town had expressed their views in support of starting the Vasco Collem local train for their daily commuting.
