Pune: Central Railway officials under Pune division have said that unloading work at Maaldhakka goods shed cannot be carried out until massive encroachments near the tracks are removed.
Work of unloading has stopped at Maaldhakka goods shed for over a month resulting in agitations by some organisations. Officials in the division said that due to the encroachment, the condition of tracks has become worse and immediate maintenance was the need of the hour without which work at the goods shed cannot be carried out.
"We have written letters to the Pune Municipal Corporation, Pune collector as well as the Railway Board. There is severe encroachment along the Nagjhari siding track, which is around half a km from the goods shed. The encroachments have been there since long and people have their homes next to the tracks. Because of the encroachment, the condition of tracks has gone from bad to worse and immediate maintenance is required. This means installing heavy equipment and getting the tracks out, maintaining them and then putting them back. And this cannot happen until and unless encroachments are removed," Pune division public relations officer Manoj Jhawar said.
On an average, at least 7-8 rakes of cement are unloaded at the shed every month.
"In order to offload, the rakes need to be adjusted in a proper manner along the track. For that, a process known as shunting takes place. The rakes are moved back and forth along different tracks for around a km or even more so that adjustments can take place properly. In this case, shunting along the siding track at Nagjhari cannot take place because of bad condition and encroachment. The Nagjhari siding, located near the Sangam Bridge, is the main area where the shunting happens. For shunting, the engine needs to go back with the rakes and with encroachment, there is a real chance of a major accident taking place," another official pointed out.
With the goods shed closed, the rakes are presently being offloaded at stations such as Uruli, Loni and Saswad.
"There have been some agitations and we believe that they are from those working in the shed. However, one has to understand that the condition of tracks, mainly of Nagjhari siding, has become worse. We are awaiting a positive response from the district administration in this connection. Tracks can only be maintained if the whole area becomes encroachment free," the official said.
