Udupi: Locals Urge Konkan Railway Authorities to Restore Railings Beside Katbeltoor Tracks

News & Pics: Aishwarya Beejady
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)

Udupi, Mar 28: The residents of Katbeltoor village urged Konkani Railway (KR) authorities to restore the railings beside the train tracks on the railway bridge.

They alleged that the railway authorities had not taken early measures to restore the vulnerable stretch of railings that had been destroyed in the rivulet despite their repeated pleas.

Konkan Railway tracks pass through the villages of Katbeltoor and Holmage via a linking bridge across Beltoor rivulet. The linking bridge serves as a lifeline for the local residents who use the footpath laid beside the train tracks. The railings and the concrete slabs supporting them are missing on a short stretch along the linking bridge threatening the lives of villagers who use it as also the cattle. Many cattle
have perished in the rivulet while passing through the precarious stretch by the unguarded railing as the earlier railings were dilapidated and fell in the rivulet.

The concrete slabs on the footpath that KR laid beside the train track are worn out making it impossible to ride two-wheelers. The villagers use this footpath day and night for their daily necessities. The locals urged KR authorities to restore the railings supported by concrete slabs at the earliest before a major tragedy occurs.

The KR train track divides Katbaltoor and Holmage villages while a majority of local residents depend on the footpath to reach Katbeltoor. Local resident Vasant, on behalf of the villagers, urged KR authorities to restore the damaged railings for easy passage of pedestrians.