YSR Congress activists, led by central committee member and local legislator Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, squatted on the railway track near the APSRTC junction here on Saturday demanding the opening of the railway gate at the level crossing.
The railway authorities got the gate permanently closed two years ago, forcing the 25,000 and odd population residing in the four divisions of the southern parts of the city take either the flyover between Poornakumbham and Ramanuja Circles or the subway at Gandhi Circle.
The dharna, which lasted a couple of hours in the forenoon, made Renigunta-bound trains remain stranded. With the party flag in hand, Mr. Reddy sat on the track and shouted slogans against the Indian Railways for causing hardship to the denizens by keeping the gate closed, knowing fully well the importance of the gate in easing traffic. He demanded building of an under-bridge at the place or reopening of the gate. When the railway officials descended on the spot and promised to take the issue to the notice of their higher-ups, Mr. Reddy vacated the spot, indicating that he would resume his agitation if no concrete step was taken within three months.
