Title - Proposed overbridge at accident-prone level crossing yet to take-off

A team of officials recently inspected the site marked out for an overbridge at the busy Mulanthuruthy level crossing.The inspection was jointly conducted by the department of revenue, the Railways and Roads and Bridges Development Corporation (RBDCK) of Kerala.The biggest hurdle for the project is land acquisition. According to revenue department sources, as the urgency clause is not being invoked, acquisition of 1.5 acres for the project would be time-consuming.An official said it would take a minimum of six months. This includes time to hold two statutory hearings and issue notices. It is learnt that only two existing buildings will be affected by the land acquisition.Sources in RBDCK, which will build the bridge, said work could begin as soon as land was handed over to the corporation. The Railways has approved the general arrangement drawing.Despite widespread calls for a rail over-bridge at the busy level crossing, people in Mulanthuruthy have expressed scepticism over work starting soon.

A senior functionary of the CPI(M)’s local unit, a strong force behind the demand for the overbridge, said the joint inspection was an attempt to hoodwink the people.

C.K. Regi, local area secretary, said whenever there was alarming news about the level crossing, officials visited the spot. The latest inspection follows reports that a serious accident was averted at the level crossing last week, he said.

An iron pillar at the rail crossing got stuck to a KSRTC bus even as a train was about to pass by. The train came to a halt just in time to prevent a serious accident. Such incidents occurred frequently at the crossing, said a man familiar with the busy road used by thousands of motorists to ply between Ernakulam and Kottayam. Kannan, who operates a pick-and-drop service for a software developer at Infopark, said he often could reach his destination on time because of the heavy train traffic on the line.

He said the number of vehicles using the crossing had increased substantially. Heavy traffic to the airport and movement of large goods carriers had added to the problem.

The railway gate sometimes got jammed, holding up traffic for hours. Kuriakose, who lives near the railway gate, said the gate needed repair as speeding vehicles often rammed it.