Title - Protests derail plan to eliminate unmanned level crossings

The ambitious scheme by the Railways to declare Kerala as a zero unmanned level crossing state has hit a roadblock due to opposition from a few local panchayats. The Railways had plans to complete the project in June, making Kerala the first state in the country to make the cut. 

According to Thiruvananthapuram divisional manager Rajesh Agarwal, out of the total 300 level crossings which were supposed to be manned in the division, five of them are yet to be manned. Opposition from local bodies in the respective areas have resulted in difficulties to man three level crossings near Punnapra in Allapuzha, one each at Guruvayoor, Thrissur and at Neyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram.

“We had identified all the locations which were yet to be manned and had completed almost all of them by the first week of June. In order to complete the project, we had made an agreement with the local bodies stating that the unnecessary level crossings near all the manned level crossings would be closed. Even though they initially agreed, when it came to closing the specified gates, they started their agitations”, Rajesh Agarwal said.

Much of the agitation has been from local bodies at Punnapra south Panchayat. “Since we can’t close the gate owing to the protest we are now forced to construct facilities to man  the level crossings and also recruit persons. As this was not anticipated, we are now in the lurch” he added. It is estimated that Railways has to shell out Rs 35 lakh to construct facilities as well as recruit personnel for one level crossing.

Though similar opposition has been raised at Guruvayoor, the issue is near settled. “The issue now in Guruvayoor and Neyattinkara is paucity of staff. Talks have been held with the local authorities as well. We hope to recruit some of the railway track men as gatekeepers. However, since they are currently on monsoon duty, we may not be able to man these gates till then”, the officials said.