Auraiya: Kanchausi Railway Crossing Closed for 8 Days
The Kanchausi Railway Crossing in Auraiya is closed for 8 days due to DFC track maintenance, forcing commuters and farmers into long detours.
Commuters and farmers in the Auraiya district are facing significant travel hardships as the Kanchausi Railway Crossing (number 5C) has been completely shut down. Located on the busy Delhi-Howrah rail route, the crossing is closed to all vehicular traffic for an eight-day period, running from October 22 to October 29.
Maintenance by Dedicated Freight Corridor
The closure is necessary to facilitate essential track maintenance and subsequent road repairs under the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) project. Lalji Anand, the Deputy Chief Project Manager of DFC Tundla, confirmed that the crossing is inaccessible to all vehicles 24 hours a day during this eight-day window.
While the primary track work is largely finished, Rishi Kumar, the Superintendent of New Kanchausi Station, explained that additional time has been allocated for road restoration. Surface repair work commenced on Wednesday, October 28, and the crossing will only be reopened once these road construction tasks are completed.
Massive Disruption for Farmers and Commuters
The shutdown has caused widespread disruption across several regions, including Rasulpur, Kanpur Dehat, Kannauj, Farrukhabad, and Auraiya. The impact is particularly severe for local farmers, who are struggling to transport their paddy crops to the Auraiya Mandi.
Motorists are currently being forced into long detours to reach their destinations:
- Detour distance: Travelers are facing an extra 5 to 10 kilometers of travel.
- Alternate routes: Drivers are using paths through Parjani, Bizhai, and Dibiyapur.
- Other options: Some are utilizing the Parjani Overbridge number three or the Sukhempur path.
These longer routes are leading to increased fuel consumption and significantly longer travel times for everyone involved, including school children and professionals.
Demands for Festive Season Reopening
With the festive season approaching, local residents and business owners have voiced their concerns. There are growing calls for authorities to open the crossing at night to accommodate the rush during Diwali and Dhanteras.
In response to the growing frustration, the local Kisan Congress has taken formal action. They have submitted a memorandum to District Magistrate Brijesh Kumar, requesting either the immediate reopening of the gate or the provision of better alternative transit arrangements to ease the burden on the community.