Residents of over 40 hamlets staging a demonstration against the authorities’ inaction.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In a bid to draw the attention of the district administration and Southern Railway to the need for a subway or a bridge to get past the level crossing, residents of 40 hamlets near Katpadi town staged a demonstration near the Latteri railway station on Wednesday.

According to the residents, who are mostly farmers and petty traders, the level crossing near Latteri railway station in the K.V. Kuppam taluk is decades-old. Buses and container lorries do not ply the route due to its frequent closure.

“Ambulances have to wait for a long time to cross to attend to emergencies in the hamlets. We have been highlighting the need for a subway or bridge for over a decade,” said R. Karthikeyan, president, Annakudi village panchayat.

Last year, local railway authorities closed a narrow pathway, which was used by pedestrians and two-wheelers to cross the track when the crossing was closed, to prevent accidents.

Residents said that without an alternative route connecting the villages, closure of all entries at the level crossing has made it difficult for them. For over 50 villages in K.V. Kuppam and Katpadi taluks, one has to pass the level crossing to reach Vellore town around 8 km away. The only alternative is a de-tour via Katpadi, which is a 18-km-long drive. Consequently, ambulances take the level crossing route to reach remote villages.

According to railway officials, the Latteri station, the nearest to the busy Katpadi Junction station, is frequented by trains. This forces railway authorities to close the crossing for long hours.

After receiving multiple petitions, Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi and Vellore MP D.M. Kathir Anand visited the village to assess the feasibility of constructing a bridge or subway. Subsequently, the Collector recommended that a facility be set up to help residents bypass the level crossing.

However, there was no progress on the issue, following which the residents decided to stage a protest against the authorities’ inaction. They have also erected huge banners in the villages surrounding the railway station, highlighting their demand.