Mess at Manish Nagar railway crossing
| Date :02-Nov-2020 |
Chaos reigns supreme once the bars are lifted after passing of train at the Manish Nagar railway
crossing. People rush from wrong side at both the ends to go to the other side. (Pic by Anil Futane)
By Sagar Mohod :
Normally, it takes about 20 minutes for a train to pass. In the meantime, a couple of hundred vehicles line up on both sides of railway crossing
The generation seems to be in tearing hurry, almost at every step of life and in process ends-up creating mess for others and also for themselves. Non adherence to basic civic norms is visible at every nook and corner on city roads and it is carried by people even at places where one could sense that it would create problem. Stand for few minutes at Manish Nagar railway crossing and one is amazed at alacrity of citizens in competing with each other to line up on either side of road divider meant for separating traffic lanes. The divider was specifically put in at the place to segregate criss-cross traffic, while passing through the railway tracks to ensure faster clearance after the gates are opened post passage of trains. The same was done after studying the traffic flow at the railway crossing but it seems people are hell bent on defeating any purpose aimed at correcting the traffic pattern.
Commuters enter wrong side to go to the other end of the railway crossing on both the sides thus causing traffic jams after the gates are opened. (Pic by Anil Futane)Normally it takes about 20 minutes on an average for a train to pass through the Manish Nagar section post closure of the gate and in process about couple of hundred vehicles line-up on both sides, the one on Somalwada and Manish Nagar side of the level crossing. And one point that unites the citizens on either side of divided is their way of ignoring common sense while awaiting patiently for the gates to open for road traffic. Just after the level crossing is opened a mad rush ensues among commuters to hurry past the tracks. However as one can visualise a traffic jams ensues in the middle, on the tracks, as vehicles come into each other's pathway and ensures total blockage.
Citizens do well understand that their one short act is going to cause multiple problems yet they continue to ignore the basic sense with impunity. One does not understand the logic of people who choose to wait in wrong path at Manish Nagar railway crossing just to get across the tracks to other side in a hurry despite knowing that a jam is going to be the only outcome due to their act. But as it is seen everywhere, citizens have little regards for civility despite the fact that their own action creates problem for themselves.
CR’s shabby track work creating more trouble Central Railway too has not lagged behind in creating a problem at Manish Nagar railway crossing as the uneven surface post track correction work is adding to traffic congestion at the spot. Since last one month citizens are experience jerks and bumps as division officials ignored laying of bitumen post track renewal work. Already the increased urbanisation in Manish Nagar, Besa-Beltarodi area means more number of vehicles and this called for more smoother crossing for faster movement. However railway officials gave a scant attention to public convenience and for those who have to daily criss-cross through the section have to bear with inconvenience.
Not that officials do not know about the problem but since none of them is bothered about giving some relief to citizens. Since the number of train services have also increased the pile-up of vehicles is now a common problem everyday due to uneven road surface at the crossing. Early opening of subway only solution to woes A solution to the problem lies in early opening of Manish Nagar subway that could ease the load at the railway crossing. However despite the work on tunnel nearly complete, officials are not very keen to open the same for road traffic. The sources said the officials are keen on simultaneous dedication of slew of public projects and hence kept the opening of Manish Nagar railway underbridge (RuB) on hold as of now, claim residents of the area.