Narrow rail underpass a nightmare for commuters

Coimbatore: A narrow railway underpass between Mettupalayam Road and No 4 Veerapandi town panchayat has been often witnessing traffic congestion, putting commuters to hardship.
The underpass was built by the British as a water channel and it was later changed into a carriageway as number of vehicles increased. The issue has been a cause of concern for commuters for several years. “Several petitions were submitted to elected representatives and officials over the years, but in vain,” said a commuter.
For 56-year-old R Radhakrishnan from No 4 Veerapandi, crossing the railway underpass is a major headache every day. “Traffic congestion is very common in the area as only one four-wheeler can pass through the underpass at a time. Due to unpredictability of vehicular traffic in the stretch, students and working professionals often reach their destinations late,” he lamented.
D Sobinath, 35, who runs a travel agency at Veerapandi Pirivu, pointed out that several educational institutions and industrial units are located in the area. “The route via the underpass is a key way to go from Mettupalayam Road to No 4 Veerapandi. Vehicles almost always move at snail’s pace in the stretch during the peak hours. Adding to the problems, heavy vehicles and buses often get stuck in the underpass.”
S Rajendran, a former vice-president of No 4 Veerapandi town panchayat, said he had petitioned Nilgiris MP A Raja in June last year. “A railway overbridge on the location would address the problem of traffic congestion. Southern Railway must permit the construction of the overbridge at the earliest.”