MARGAO: There were protests against the railway overbridge project in Cansaulim on Wednesday, with locals urging the authorities to consider building a rail underpass instead.
Besides the affected landowners, others like Goencho Ekvott (GE) Founder Orville Dourado Rodrigues, Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) General Secretary, Olencio Simoes, former Minister Alina Saldanha were present along with many senior citizens from Arrosim.
The delegation submitted a memorandum to the Mormugao Deputy Collector and asked that they be kept updated about any decisions being taken.
Speaking to media persons after their meeting, Simoes pointed out that the landowners of Cansaulim were once again objecting to the feasibility report, in respect of the procurement of land for the over bridge in lieu of Level Crossing gate no 25 in Cansaulim and Arossim village.
“It is also pertinent to note that in the past, the villagers/landowners had opposed a similar project proposed by South Western Railway (SWR). SWR wants to bring families and villagers on
to the road as this will be the second railway project which will be passing through their property,” said Simoes.
“In the past also, the villagers had suggested that the railway road underpass should be constructed at the already existing underpass opposite the government primary school in Cansaulim, which doesn’t require any acquisition nor much of an infrastructural cost burden. Given that Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) had constructed a Road Under Bridge at Chandor in 2022 which is close to the tributary of Kushavati river, why can’t the same model be constructed at Cansaulim,” Simoes asked.
