Hyderabad: Commuters crossing the Safilguda railway gate from and towards the Lower Bund Road and Anandbagh have to wait more than 45 minutes in the evening for the gate to open. There is no alternative for these commuters. Besides, the Army shuts the route at 10 pm every day, so there is no going back.
East Anandbagh resident Suresh Kumar said, “This happens from 8 pm to 9.30 pm. Three trains pass at this time every day. Most of the time the trains halt a few meters away from the Safilguda station and move only after the green signal. Till then the gates are closed.”
“When railway staff get information of the train two stations ahead, why does the train move only after the green signal? Sometime the gate is closed 15 minute before the arrival of the train, it takes 45 minutes to clear the traffic,” he said. Mr Kumar said he had inquired with the line man who told him that he was just following orders.
An SCR spokesperson said that there was a block section between Malkajgiri and Cavalry Barracks. “Before the train leaves the station, the signal is given. Then it arrives at the block section a few meters away from the gate. Safilguda is also a halting station.” He said that the level-crossing gate is closed when the signal is flashed. “It is normal to close gates 10 minutes before a train so that the traffic is cleared.”
He acknowledged that this was a regular problem. “Every gate follows safety laws. The other factor is the speed of the train. For MMTS, the gate has to be closed early as the trains travel at high speed, while goods trains are slower. All these factors influence the opening and closing of the gate,” he added.
