GUWAHATI: The Northeast Frontier Railway authorities, in the second week of October, closed the unmanned crossing on Colonel J Ali Road of Lakhtokia popularly known as Gate No 2. After protests by the local people, business community and the Masjid authority of Lakhtokia, the Railway authorities decided to reopen it temporarily.
Lakhtokia, which is the hub of all the electronic items of Guwahati, always remains busy. The unmanned Railway crossing which is located on Colonel J Ali Road is used by many people to cross over to the AT Roadside or vice versa by foot after treading over the railway tracks rather than the more circuitous route of using the Pan Bazar over bridge. The crossing has long been non-motorable though. The crossing not only serves to connect different parts of the area, but is also a major area for vendors.
After the step was taken by the Railway authorities the local people, vendors, businessmen, Masjid authority, residents of Ram Mandir Lane and several other people came forward to express their dissatisfaction towards the Railway authority and the government. They together formed a committee and submitted a memorandum to the Minister of State for Railways, Sri Rajen Gohain, the local MLA, Commissioner of GMC, GMDA and other various officials for reopening of the crossing.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NF Railway, Jayanta Sarma, informed G Plus that the unmanned crossing on Colonel J Ali Road is considered to be illegal as NF Railway has not approved that crossing. He added that usage of that unmanned crossing by any person is considered to be an unlawful act.
According to Railway Rulebook, a person can only cross a railway line when there is a proper level crossing made by the authority. The level crossing should have gates and the gates may be in the form of chains, lifting barriers or movable gates of approved design. At new manned level crossings or when existing unmanned level crossings are upgraded to manned level crossings, lifting barriers should normally be provided which should be coupled so as to operate simultaneously.
Chains or swing gates at existing manned level crossings should be replaced by lifting barriers on a programmed basis, giving priority to the important and busy level crossings. The crossing should have railway personnel to carry out the day to day operations of the level crossing.
Since the crossing on Colonel J Ali Road in Lakhtokia does not have all the necessary facilities mentioned in the Railway Rulebook, the crossing is illegal and any person who passes over that part of the railway tracks is considered to be trespassing railway property.
Though people have submitted a memorandum to the authorities highlighting their inconveniences, it is not a permanent solution for the problem. Local people are still apprehensive that the crossing will be closed by the Railway authority permanently and they will again have to face the problem.
Reacting to queries in this regard, the Railway PRO, Jayanta Sarma said, “The reopening of the unmanned crossing is temporary. We will deal with the problem legally and shut down the unmanned crossing permanently.”
The problem of unmanned crossing is not only faced in Lakhtokia. There are many places in Guwahati where people unwillingly have to cross the railway line under great risk. It is seen that many markets have also sprouted near the busy railway lines. Vendors from far-off places of Assam come to Guwahati in trains and sell their products near the railway line. Trains entering such places have to slow down to prevent any kind of mishap. Any kind of unwanted incident causes a lot of problems to the people and to the Railway. Unplanned formation of Guwahati city and the unplanned railway track through the heart of the city is one of the main reasons for such occurrences.
It will be a challenge for the government to make new plans and execute such plans so that they can prevent such unlawful activity. It will also be the responsibility of the citizens of Guwahati to follow the rules and regulations mentioned by the authority for the betterment and safety of the society.