Karnataka - Hassan   

Lorry owners end strike

Hassan: Lorry owners and drivers in Hassan have ended their 11-day strike. This follows discussions with Divisional Railway Manager Vijaya Raghavan, who also reassured residents of Rajaghatta village that efforts would be made to ensure proper connectivity to their village.

The residents thanked the official and appealed to him to ensure that a new road was laid at the earliest.

Mr. Raghavan first visited the village where residents were on dharna seeking reopening of the level-crossing that connected it and Hassan city. He ordered the local railway officials to have the crossing reopened immediately. He promised the residents that the existing road, which is full of potholes, would be concreted.

He said work on the road would start from October 1 and would be completed in three months. The Railways would also construct an elevated footpath on both sides of the road for pedestrians. The Railways would pay for the construction work, he added.

Mr. Raghavan later met lorry owners and drivers, listened to their grievances, and said the Railways would lay a two-way road from the railway goods shed to the Bangalore-Mangalore road, alongside the old Mysore track, so that lorries could load and unload goods easily. This project would cost Rs 5.6 crore, he said and added that the work would start from January 1. The State Government would have to meet 50 per cent of the cost, he said.

Deputy Commissioner Naveen Raj Singh, who was present, said if the Railways sent estimates to his office, he would forward them to the Government for approval.

Mr. Raghavan appealed to president of the association Annaji to use the same road that the residents of the village were now using till the new road was laid.

Mr. Annaji appealed to the Divisional Railway Manager to allow nine hours’ time for clearance of goods from each train as the road was in poor shape.

If they did not clear the wagons within four hours, they had to pay penalty. He also sought clearance of only one train a day. Mr. Raghavan agreed to their request.

Mr. Raghavan said he understood their problems and promised that the road connecting Rajaghatta village and Hassan would be re-laid soon. Superintendent of Police K.V. Sharatchandra was present.

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