Velsao, Cansaulim locals win; SWR assures to keep their houses intact

Team Herald 

VASCO: The efforts of locals of Velsao and Cansaulim, who have been waging a long battle against the railway officials over the double tracking issue, at last bore fruits, as the South Western Railway (SWR) officials finally gave into their demands and assured them that no houses will be affected as the double tracks would be shifted to the eastern side of the villages.

The SWR officials gave the above assurance to the locals in the presence of Cortalim MLA Anton Vas, who visited the affected areas of Velsao and Cansaulim. Sarpanchas and panchayat members from both the villages were also present at the inspection sites proposed for construction of an underpass at Cansaulim.

After inspecting all the sites, the railway officials said that the tracks will now be laid on the eastern side of the villages so as to save the houses which would have been affected or razed as per the present alignment. 

They said that the local MLA informed them about the objections raised by the villagers and provided his suggestions to resolve the ongoing tussle. 

“We are examining these suggestions and considering sites for construction of an underpass at Cansaulim,” a railway official said. 

Vas said that he met the affected villagers and after listening to their problems and demands, he requested the railway authorities to hold parleys with the aggrieved villagers to find an amicable solution. 

He said that the villagers of Cansaulim want an underpass while some are demanding an overbridge and this issue would be sorted out by the railways.

“The railway officials have assured me that they would try to align the tracks and shift them on the eastern side of the village so that no houses are affected. Minimum three houses situated along the tracks would be saved if the double track is aligned,” said Vas. 

Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim sarpanch Savio Pereira said that an underpass was the need of the hour as villagers, students and senior citizens had to cross the track. 

He said that if an underpass is built, it will be a big boon to the villagers and students who were crossing the tracks by risking their lives. The panchayat will propose construction of underpasses at two major locations for the safety of villagers.