For people on the west side of the railway line between Kallai and Meenchantha, reaching the heart of Kozhikode city has become a laborious task. The residents have been completely marooned, with most of their exit routes to the city blocked some way or the other.
With the approach road to Kothi Bridge yet to be completed and the Panniyankara level crossing closed for the construction of a railway overbridge, the YMRC road and a nearby railway underpass have been the only exit routes for people here. But with the railway closing a path at West Kannancheri, the people of Payyanakkal and West Kannancheri are being forced to take a longer route to reach Kallai Road.
West Kannancheri Road is connected to Kallai Road through a railway underpass that is big enough only for two-wheelers and pedestrians.
A mud road that runs perpendicular to the road and parallel to the railway line are being used by people for years as a short-cut from Payyanakkal to YMRC Road.
The road that is located in the reserve land of Railways is wide enough for a car to pass. Two pillars at either side of the entrance prevent wider vehicles from passing through.
Until the local people submitted a petition to remove the pillars three months ago, Railways were oblivious about such a road. Immediately, two more pillars were erected between the already existing two, preventing any sort of transportation through the road, except for two-wheelers. “This road was very important as it helped us transport sick persons to the city easily. Now we have to take the Payyanakkal road which is not in a good condition,” said Afsal, who runs a shop near the underpass.
The road was also one of the narrow lanes used by the people of Payyanakkal, who have been cut off from the city ever since the work of the Panniyankara railway overbridge started.
The councillor of Payyanakkal ward C.P. Musafir Ahamed had brought this issue to the attention of the Corporation council many times, though a solution is still remote.
When he took up the matter at the council recently, Mayor A.K. Premajam assured the forum that she would bring it to the notice of the officials concerned.
