Sahara underpass leaks but none to care

SURAT: All is not well between Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Western Railway (WR) when it comes to repairing the leaking Sahara Darwaja railway underpass here.
While the civic body is maintaining that it has already given required funds to the Indian Railways to repair the underpass, the WR has denied receiving any funds from the former. However, as a temporary solution, the WR recently approved providing metal sheets to cover the ceiling of the underpass in order to stop the leakage.
While the SMC and the WR are passing the buck, thousands of commuters have been facing hardships since the past many years. It is here, that the commuters have to stop when trains pass because of filthy droppings from them. Every day, traffic comes to a grinding halt on both sides of Sahara Darwaja underpass as dozens of trains pass throughout the day and enight from this track.
Girish Lehru, manager at a cell phone company at Parle Point, told TOI, “I live in Parvat Patai, which is on the other side of Sahara Darwaja underpass. I had a bad experience while on my motorcycle. I prefer travelling in my car now just to avoid the dirt.”
Civic body sources said that repair and maintenance of the railway underpasses is the responsibility of the WR. In 2011, the civic body had deposited Rs8.52 crore for renovating all the three underpasses at Varachha, Delhi Gate and Sahara Darwaja. The Indian Railways renovated only two underpasses, namely Varachha and Delhi Gate by 2013, while Sahara Darwaja was left out.
“It is WR’s job to repair and maintain the railway underpasses. We understand the agony of the city residents, but we are helpless,” says city engineer Bharat Dalal.
He said that railway officials have given them the option to renovate Sahara Darwaja underpass, which is not viable and could damage the utility lines passing from below. The WR still has Rs3.17 crore deposited by the civic body with it to do the work. Hopefully, they will start the renovation work soon.”
In reply to RTI activist Rajesh Modi, WR DRM Mukul Jain stated they are yet to receive any payment from SMC. As a temporary measure, sheets are being provided to stop the leakage at the underpass.