Residents fume over frequent closure of railway gate at Perugamani for freight trains

Residents near Tiruchi face daily commuting hardships due to frequent railway gate closures caused by halted freight trains.

Residents of over 15 villages, situated along the Tiruchi-Karur National Highway, continue to face much hardship in their daily commute owing to the frequent closure of the level crossing on the Perugamani-Nangavaram Road, especially due to the halting of freight trains on the loop line on Tiruchi-Karur railway section.

Residents complain that this had become a major headache during their commute as the prolonged closure of the gates are affecting students and office-goers. They complain that freight trains are being halted frequently on the loop line requiring the prolonged closure of the gate across the level-crossing (LC 65).

“This has become the major problem faced by thousands of residents, especially those from Perugamani. People are not able to reach offices and educational institutions in time. Ambulances and other emergency vehicles often get stuck when the gates are closed,” said K. Anandraj, a resident of Perugamani.

Residents complain that the area is poorly lit and hence the motorists queuing up for a long time at night at the gate face the risk of accidents caused by speeding vehicles on the Tiruchi-Karur National Highway. Petitions sent to the Salem Railway Division had not evoked any response, they said.

“The Railways should avoid halting freight trains on the loop line. Construction of an overbridge will be the permanent solution to the problem. As an interim measure, an overbridge should be built and adequate lighting should be provided in the area,” Mr. Anandraj said. Sources in the Railways said halting freight trains on the loop line was unavoidable.

District Collector V. Saravanan had inspected the gate in September last year as the Railways sought the nod from the district administration to build a subway even while the locals were demanding the construction of an overbridge. The residents contend that a vehicular subway would not meet their requirements. Since the railway gate is located close to the Cauvery, construction of a subway will only result in frequent water-logging as 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, they said.