Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 30: The railway over bridge work undertaken at Pachanady as part of the line doubling and electrification of the section of the southern railway between Mangaluru junction and Panambur has not been completed even after two years.

The work had started in 2018. The old bridge over the tracks is being demolished and a new one is being built. The work on the overbridge went very fast for one year initially after which it is going very slow. After the corona lockdown, no work has been conducted here. Two pillars on both the sides have been completed and four girders which were kept there are lying in the open facing sunshine and rain. Bushes have grown there and the area is lying neglected.

It is learnt that permission for fixing girder has not yet been given. Fixing of girders is a complicated job which can pose danger. For some time, railway operations will have to be stopped and for that permission of railway safety commissioner is required. Southern Railway officials say that work will resume once this permission is received.

There is a concrete road by the sides of the overbridge where a temporary level crossing system has been made. This has been creating problems for the people every day as it takes 15 to 20 minutes for the gate to be opened. Buses are also forced to cut down trips as they are unable to reach on time.

The new bridge will be 12 metres wide and 25 metres long. The initial estimate for the overbridge was about five crore rupees and this may go up by a couple of crore rupees now. As the bridgework is pending, Bondel church-Vamanjoor road concrete work has also been kept waiting.

Public relations officer of southern railway, Palakkad division, MK Gopinath, says that once the clearance from railway safety commissioner is received, girder will be fixed, after which only minor works will remain.