Kerala - Thrissur   

Human chain in protest against closure of railway gates

Staff Reporter

Residents will form a human chain to voice their protest Residents have been on an agitation since March 27

THRISSUR: A human chain will be formed from Parlikkad to Minaloor near Vadakkanchery on Sunday in protest against closure of two railway gates in these localities. The local people have been on an agitation, which included a hartal, since March 27 on the issue. The human chain will be formed through the bypass road in the area.

The Railways closed the gates on March 15 following the completion of an overpass between them.

Political leaders and the president of the All-India Hind Navothana Pratishtan, Bhoomananda Tirtha, have now joined the agitation. The swamiji is associated with a few Vyasa Tapovana Ashram establishments in these places.

Repair works

The overpass is three to four km from the gates. The people have to walk this distance or take an autorickshaw to cross the railway track. Initially, Railway officials said the gates were being closed for a couple of days for repairs. However, now they cite an agreement with the State Government, reached 17 years ago, that allows closure of the gates after building the overpass. The Railway officials say that the overpass has been built at a considerable cost on the promise that the gates can be closed. The gates will be reopened only if the money is returned.

Leaders of an action council that is leading the agitation and the swamiji say the people were not taken into confidence before the agreement was reached. According to Section 16 of the Railway Act, minimum inconvenience should be caused to people while undertaking construction works. A railway gate can be closed permanently only if an overpass is constructed near it and not three to four km away, they add.

The Minister for Railways, Laloo Prasad, has reportedly assured the local MP that he will intervene to solve the issue. There are reports that a proposal to construct a road underpass at one gate and a footbridge at the other is being worked out. The estimated cost is Rs. 60 lakhs, and the State Government is reported to have agreed to bear two-thirds of the expenditure. The remaining sum is likely to be granted from the MLA fund of the Vadakkanchery MLA.

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