Closed Safilguda rail gate disrupts everyday life; Malkajgiri residents discuss alternate paths

Hyderabad: Residents of Malkajgiri colonies in Hyderabad met on Sunday to discuss the closure of the Safilguda railway gate which has caused problems in their daily lives. Among other issues, it has increased travel distance by three kilometres.

The closure of the gate has caused a major inconvenience to residents of Balaram Nagar, West Krishnanagar, Sitaram Nagar, Devi Nagar, Sainik Nagar, RK Puram Village, Adarsh Nagar, Siddhartha Nagar, LB Nagar, and New Vidyanagar colonies. These colonies are on the other side of the railway tracks of the Safilguda railway station.

During the meeting, the president of the West Krishnanagar Colony Association, D Ramakrishna said, “The closure of the Safilguda railway gate caused a great deal of inconvenience to the residents of the various colonies. The travel distance has increased by three kilometres, and the road leading from Vijaya Diagnostics side to Uttam Nagar RUB is very narrow and dangerous.”

Adding to it, Sitaram Nagar Association general secretary Santosh, treasurer Ramesh, Balaram Nagar Association member Gopal Singh, and Suresh Kumar Singh said that the closure of the Safilguda railway gate has made it very difficult for them to commute to work and school.

BT Srinivasan, president of the Federation of RWAs, Malkajgiri, spoke about the efforts made to get the Safilguda railway gate reopened. “The South Central Railways GM and Hyderabad Division DRM have refused to reopen the gate, as it is necessary for the expansion of the Safilguda station platforms.”

Solutions

West Krishnanagar secretary B Balakrishna suggested another railway rainwater drain in the middle of Sitaram Nagar to reduce traffic congestion. Suburban Bus and Train Travels Association president Noor said, “The only solution to the problem is to develop a road under the railway rainwater culvert near Sitaram Nagar culvert to Safilguda gate on the other side of the railway track.”

Sanjeeva Rao, a senior official of the railway engineering department, who participated in the meeting, said “I will help develop a road under the railway rainwater culvert. I will visit the field near the culvert today at 5 pm and take the required measurements.”

The meeting concluded with a decision to form a core group to take up the issue with the officials and public representatives. The core group will be responsible for persuading the state and the Central government to develop an alternative road to the Safilguda railway gate.