Balaghat diversion jams Budhi rail crossing daily as Bhatera road stays shut for overbridge work

Bhatera road in Balaghat has been closed because of construction of the Bhatera overbridge. Traffic is building up near the Budhi railway crossing on the diversion given for vehicles. On Wednesday too, a long queue of vehicles stood on Budhi road.

The road is already narrow, and the diversion has increased the pressure of traffic on it. Vehicles come to a halt as soon as the railway gate closes. People are taking more than half an hour to cover half a kilometre. Local trains pass through about 6 to 7 times a day, and each time the gate closes, a queue forms. The movement of two-wheelers and four-wheelers has also added to the load on the road.

With the Bhatera railway crossing route closed, people are using Budhi road. Children going to school towards Bhatera and people travelling to and from the district headquarters for daily work also use this road.

Local residents say no firm arrangement has been made to allow better use of the diversion. They allege that the administration and police are not paying attention to the problem. According to them, public representatives and officials do not travel on this road, so they cannot understand the hardship of the people.

When the gate stays closed as a train passes, a long queue of vehicles forms. After the gate opens, vehicles from both sides try to get through at once, which worsens the situation. No police or traffic department staff are present during a jam to clear vehicles. In such circumstances, people in a hurry to get out further disorder the arrangement.

Residents have demanded measures such as placing a divider in the middle to organise the road, removing encroachments and increasing police presence on the diversion route. They say that if firm steps are not taken in time, people using this route will have to bear daily jams and wasted time until the Bhatera overbridge is completed.