RVNL officials clarify that the flyover falls under SWR, not their jurisdiction; local frustration mounts over delay, with political leaders questioning govt’s inaction
File photo of the second track laid by RVNL at Nessai railway crossing.
MARGAO
On October 28, 2020, the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd laid the double track at the Nessai railway station in Sao Jose de Areal village, signalling the commencement of the double tracking work in the Salcete sector of the South Western Railway.
The Nessai railway crossing was shut down for vehicular traffic past midnight as per the Collector’s order to facilitate the laying of the double track. The RVNL laid the double track at Nessai under strong police protection and after ignoring protests by the Goyant Kollso Naka to stop the double tracking project.
When the second track was being laid that year, the RVNL and the State government had made claims that the Indian Railways will soon build a flyover at the Nessai railway crossing. Sadly, it will be almost five years later this year that the RVNL had bulldozed its way with the laying of the second track at Nessai, but the promised flyover at the railway crossing is yet to see the light of day.
In fact, foundation stone for the proposed flyover at the Nessai railway crossing was laid around a year ago, but work on the project is yet to commence till date.
When The Goan called up senior RVNL officials to shed light on the status of the proposed flyover at the Nessai railway crossing, it was revealed that the proposed flyover would be built by a division of the South Western Railway and not by the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. “It is a fact that the foundation stone for the Nessai railway crossing was laid last year, but we have no idea why work on the project is yet to take off. The construction group in the SWR will be in a better position to shed light on Nessai flyover,” the RVNL official said.
Against the backdrop of Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanavade taking up cudgels for the villagers of Davorlim to build a flyover at the Davorlim railway crossing, clamour for a flyover at Nessai has come to the fore again.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva told the media that the railway authorities have laid the double track at Nessai and have not bothered to take the flyover project to its logical conclusion. “Foundation stone for the flyover at the Nessai railway crossing was laid over a year ago, but we have not seen any work at the site,” he said.
He added: “On one hand, the government has plans to build a railway station at Sao Jose de Areal, but it has no plan to ensure that at least the proposed flyover at the Nessai railway crossing becomes a reality and mitigate the hardships faced by the Areal villagers.”
The Velim MLA was categorical in saying that the government should ensure that the flyover at the Nessai railway crossing is built along with the flyover at the Davorlim railway crossing. “The Rajya Sabha has taken up the issue of flyover at the Davorlim railway crossing. But, why only Davorlim? The MP should get the Railways to get the work commenced of the flyover at the Nessai railway crossing,” Cruz said, adding that a flyover at the Nessai crossing has become a dire necessity in view of the increased frequency of trains running on the route.
