Residents seek bridge over level crossing near Gudiyatham

Residents near Gudiyatham demand bridge over level crossing for easier access, shorter routes, and improved emergency services.

Residents of at least 15 villages near Gudiyatham have been demanding that a bridge be built over the level crossing in Kilpatti village, around 10 km from Gudiyatham town.

Residents said the decades-old level crossing is often closed as the Gudiyatham railway station is frequented by trains, forcing motorists to wait for a long time. Consequently, buses and container lorries avoid plying the route. “The de-tour is longer and tiresome as the village roads are unmotorable. The level crossing is located on the shortest route to the neighbouring villages and towns,” said K. Balu, 63, a farmer.

Balu, along with a group of residents, presented the Collector with a petition calling for a bridge over the rail line a week ago.

Following this, Revenue and Railway officials inspected the level crossing to study the feasibility of constructing a subway instead of a bridge.

According to Railway officials the total cost for constructing a bridge is double that of a subway. Moreover, the bridge will require more time to complete. Paperwork, especially to get clearance from the railways to build the track portion of the bridge, is also required to ensure the safe movement of trains during the construction period.

However, residents said a subway would be inaccessible at times of inundation, considering the fact that Kilpatti and the neighbouring villages are located in low-lying areas.

They further said that most workers of the tanneries in Ambur and Pernambut towns travel through Kilpatti village to reach the factories situated around 6 km away. A detour via Gudiyatham-Ambur, on the other hand, is around 18 km.