Peelamedu residents to stage black flag protest over long-pending railway underpass

Residents of Peelamedu, Gandhi Managar, and Cheran Managar have renewed their demand for the early construction of the long-pending railway underpass beneath the tracks at Level Crossing (LC) No. 7 and the formation of a service road on the northern side of the Peelamedu railway overbridge, citing safety concerns and poor connectivity.

The demands were raised by Peelamedu Consumer Voice, which announced that residents would hoist black flags at their houses on July 28 to draw the attention of the Railways and other authorities to the delay in implementing the projects.

According to the organisation, the Railways had shared a proposal for constructing the railway underpass in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application in 2011. However, despite repeated representations, including hunger strikes, human chain demonstrations and black flag protests over the years, the project has not been executed.

The organisation claimed that around 27 people had lost their lives while crossing the railway tracks since the railway overbridge was opened in 2017. It said the absence of a safe pedestrian crossing has forced residents and students to cross the tracks, leading to fatal accidents. Although the Railways conducted a foundation-laying ceremony for the underpass around 10 months ago, construction work is yet to begin, it alleged.

The residents also highlighted the delay in constructing the service road on the northern side of the railway overbridge, which was opened in 2017. While a service road exists on one side of the bridge, they said the northern stretch remains incomplete, causing difficulties for heavy vehicles accessing the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) depot, Chinthamani warehouse, and other commercial establishments in the area.

Citing a 2024 RTI reply from the NABARD Roads Division, the organisation said 1,194 sq. m of land had been proposed for acquisition to facilitate the construction of the railway underpass and the northern service road. However, despite the assurance, the land acquisition process and the works are yet to commence, it alleged.