Inhabitants of Chandra Halam Para under Panisagar in North Tripura are set to stage protest preventing Railways to run trains through the area. The villagers were demanding a level-crossing on the railway route that bisected the area and gave the concerned authority an ultimatum to decide on the construction of the level-crossing within August 11 – however, as the no happened till August 10 (Monday), the villagers will stage blockade in the area between Piller No 57/6 and 57/7. This will affect and stall the rail services in Tripura.
Sources said, a delegation of villagers met SDM Panisgar and apprised him of the emerging situation. The walls elongated the railway tracks if constructed as planned in both the sides will delink this rural hamlet from the rest of the sub-division. And villagers are vehemently opposing this and demanding a safe-level crossing to avert accidents
“Students will be worst sufferers. Presently, they are risking their lives and crossing the rail track to reach educational institutions including a Holy Cross school. Several other school and college students are also using the road. Once wall, as planned, is being constructed, student will have travel more to reach their institutions. Also daily commuters of the area will face troubles and both the travelling time and cost will go up”, Villagers alleged and added, this stretch is an accident prone area and several people died in accident in this area.
Based on the ground reality, it would have been a prudent decision to construct a safe level crossing as to what we are demanding, villagers claimed.
Earlier, when Railway authority sent workers for erecting the wall, villagers vehemently protested and forced the authority to abandon the works. In the face of agitation and authority promised to look into the mater within August 11 and villagers unequivocally mentioned they would go to hold blockade if the authority fails to act within August 11.
“For some inexplicable reason, the authority kept mum on our demand till now. We are unaware as to why the authority is so reluctant to construct a level crossing. With no option left, we have decided to hit the track and stop train services”, villagers said.
Considered as the Life-line of Tripura, any blockade will crumble the rail services in the State.
