300 dead in yr,group seeks alternative to rly crossing

In the absence of a road overbridge at Vikhroli railway station,people continue to risk their lives by the using level crossing.

In the absence of a road overbridge at Vikhroli railway station,people continue to risk their lives by the using level crossing. As many as 300 people have lost their lives in a year. Thirty-member unit of Bombay Catholic Sabha has been running from pillar to post for the last two years to get the level crossing closed like several others on the Western and Central railway,but their series of requests has fallen on deaf years.

According to the BCS members,the municipal authorities have cleared a proposal to construct a road-overbridge to facilitate east-west movement in 1999. Sixty-five year old Terence D’Souza,a resident on Vikhroli east says he witnesses a death on the tracks everyday. Last Thursday,three people were crushed to death by a local. The policemen and others were actually collecting the pieces of their bodies…it was that terrible. Then again on Friday morning,a man died while crossing, says Robert DSouza,chairman of BCS.

Terence adds,People are using the level crossing because there is no alternative. There are railway FOBs but they are only for bonafide passengers,not everyone would have tickets.

Some days ago we had a brief meeting with the Chief Minister. He said he would call a meeting of the authorities concerned,but so far there is no progress, Robert says. BCS had also organised a signature campaign to shut the level crossing and get the government acting on providing an alternative. We collected 33,000 signatures,of which 1,600 were students.”

Why is the Vikhroli level crossing still open when almost all other level crossings are closed? Why cant they shut it completely and provide alternative. We dont mind even a subway. Precious lives are lost everyday due to this approach of the authorities, says Terence.

The NGO is also planning to write to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee to look into the matter. The railways and BMC have to bear the cost equally for the ROB or subway or FOB. We tried to meet the Minister,but it may take months and till then people will continue to risk their lives, Robert says. Despite all odds,the group is determined to get the crossing shut. We are planning to have a rail-roko andolan by November end if the authorities dont act, Robert says. The BCS is also contemplating moving the Bombay High Court as a last resort.

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