Mangaluru: Southern Railways has approved the construction of a pedestrian railway underpass at Thokkottu to connect Olapete. Residents of Olapete in Ullal, one of the oldest towns in the area, have faced difficulty for a long time to cross railway tracks due to a lack of infrastructure. With no railway gate, foot overbridge, or underpass, people were forced to walk across the tracks illegally.Following repeated representations and inspections, Southern Railway approved a pedestrian underpass of 3m to connect Thokkottu with Olapete, said speaker and Mangaluru MLA UT Khader. The underpass will be built for Rs 2 crore, he said. “The access from Thokkottu to Olapete is a major stretch that connects the national highway with Ullal town. However, the railway tracks on the stretch cause inconvenience for thousands of people, including students and residents. They are forced to cross the railway track on the stretch to access markets, schools, colleges, mosques, temples, and churches. Although the railway department long demanded the closure of the level crossing due to safety concerns and past mishaps, local authorities so far maintained access in consideration of public convenience,” the MLA said.“With the railway department giving approval for constructing the underpass, the work will be taken up within three to four months. Once completed, pedestrians and two-wheelers will be allowed,” he added. Ullal Students Union, in association with various like-minded organisations, held protests to draw the attention of the people’s representatives and the railways to the demands of an underpass. Organisations also submitted memoranda to people’s representatives and officials in the past.
