The railway level-crossing near civil township in Paradip. Telegraph pictures

Paradip, Sept. 13: About 12,000 residents living in Paradip Phosphates Limited (PPL) civil township virtually lie cut-off almost throughout the day because of a railway level-crossing.

The level-crossing has impeded the mobility of those living in the fertiliser township. As rail movement is frequent in this area which is close to the port, transportation of raw material suffers a lot.

Rail line passes through the entrance point connecting the civil township to remaining part of the city. The level crossing remains shut for vehicular movement for nearly six hours a day daily.

Authorities of the PPL have been urging the railway authorities for construction of an overbridge. The East Coast Railway officials have remained indifferent to people’s plight.

The level crossing has become a constant source of traffic disruption. The rail traffic is heavy on the route as it connects the Paradip port. The vehicular traffic is often stranded because of frequent movement of cargo-laden trains.

“When the township came up in the 80s, the situation was not bad. The railway traffic was not as heavy as it is now. Things are going from bad to worse at present. The level crossing gate remains shut at least 50 times everyday. It is posing inconvenience to residents of the township. Besides the dispatch of raw materials to the plant is getting inordinately delayed,” said vice-president (operation), PPL, Kiran M. Joshi.

“The level crossing has become an irksome burden on us. We are unable to reach the plant site on time as the gate remains shut during peak working hours. The hospitalisation of ailing persons gets delayed because of the gate. Unless an overbridge comes up on the rail route, problem would get compounded in the coming days,” said Rasananda Rout, a casual worker.

“Whenever we travel to the port town for urgent work, the gate becomes a barrier. The railway authorities should build an overbridge without further delay,” said Sunakar Sethy, a PPL employee.

“The demand for a rail overbridge near PPL township is being looked into. The East Coast Railway would make a feasibility study in this regard shortly,” said divisional railway manager, East Coast Railway, S.K.Mohanty.