Residents demand construction of an overbridge across railway line at Perugamani

With the Railways planning to build a subway under the railway level-crossing at Perugamani on the Tiruchi-Karur section, local residents have urged the district administration and the Railways to build an overbridge instead.

The plea has turned vocal as District Collector V. Saravanan inspected the level-crossing along with District Revenue Officer R. Rajalakshmi and railway officials on Saturday. The Collector’s inspection came in the wake of the railways seeking the nod from the district administration to construct a subway.

However, the local people contend that a vehicular subway would not meet their requirements. The railway gate (LC 65) is situated at an important access route for residents in more than 18 villages, including Nangavaram, Nachalur, Kavalkaranpatti, Neithalur, and Kurichi.

“Since the railway gate is located close to the Cauvery, construction of a subway will only result in frequent water-logging as had been the case in the subways built by the railways in Sirugamani and other places in recent years. Besides, heavy vehicles carrying farm produce would not be able to pass through the subways. Hence, we want an overbridge to be built across the line here,” said N. Loganathan, a civic activist. Farmers had already represented the matter to the district authorities, he added.

Local residents have been pressing for long the extension of the loop line at Perugamani to halt goods trains and prevent disruption of road traffic due to the prolonged closure of the railway gate.

When contacted, Mr. Saravanan said that he visited the site as the railways had sought permission for building a subway. “However, I have asked for a traffic analysis from the officials. Based on it, we will take a decision in a few days. The aspirations of the local residents will be taken into account,” he said.