The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : An endless wait to get to the other side

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 13, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

An endless wait to get to the other side

By Swahilya

CHENNAI, JAN. 12. It is 12.45 p.m. Traffic along the Korukkupet Railway line is piling up fast near the level rossing.

A senior citizen returning home after shopping for groceries has parked his scooter near the crossing and is waiting in front of a temple on the pavement.

Cyclists, scooterists and rickshaw pullers, have all been waiting for over an hour for the level-crossing gates to open.

Pedestrians are nonchalantly climbing up the links between two coaches of the goods train being shunted on the railway line.

For over 50,000 residents of Srinivasapuram, Bhojaraja Nagar and the newly developed Mint Modern City in the former Pencil Factory area, there appears to be no way to get around this endless wait.

The housing colonies are literally marooned on the other side of the level; even in an emergency, there is no way to reach the other side except through the level crossing.

Foot overbridge

"We have made a representation to the Ministry of Railways to build a road underbridge or at least a temporary foot overbridge," says M.S. Sharief, president of the Mint Modern City Residents Welfare Association.

"An uncle with a blunt nose is better than having no uncle at all," he quotes a proverb in Hindi to say that in the absence of a road underbridge, a foot over bridge will do, even if it is a temporary solution.

Rafathunisa who is living in the layout with her family of sons, daughters-in-law and several grandchildren points to funeral processions held up while the level crossing is closed.

S. Syed Rafiq Ahmed, a resident of the area says that some months ago a woman delivered a baby near the level-crossing as the auto rickshaw could not get to the hospital on time; in another case, a woman who was sick died before she could get to the hospital as the level-crossing was closed.

Concern over safety

Nafeez, studying Standard VII in the MEASI Matriculation School in Mannady finds the gate closed while returning from school; he and his schoolmates clamber over and under the goods train to get home.

"Even when I am at work, I am worried about the safety of my children when they cross the tracks," says Rafi, another resident.

Railway proposal

The Ministry of Railways has examined the request for a subway and has submitted a proposal to the Corporation of Chennai for a road underbridge at a cost of Rs. 2.53 crores.

"The ball is now in the Chennai Corporation's court. Once the Corporation gives its approval, necessary action can be taken," Mr. Sharief says, quoting a letter from the Divisional Manager, Southern Railways.

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