Mangaluru: The difficulties faced by the residents of Kanakarabettu near Sooterpet, a virtually landlocked island, in getting to the city centre may soon be at an end. The Southern Railway has proposed to build a road connecting the area to the nearest railway underbridge (RuB).

Kanakarabettu, which has around 100 inhabitants, is located between the Kannur-Mumbai railway line and National Highway 66, off Jeppinamogaru. The only approach road is from Sooterpet, off Valencia, and there is no road approaching NH 66.

The railway level crossing (LC) gate along the approach road has been the bane, says Prem Kumar Sanil, a resident of the locality. Since there is frequent movement of trains along this line, the gate is closed very often and commuters are left to wait, he said.

On the other hand, there exists a cattle underpass very close to the LC gate, which also had bitumen approach roads till a few years ago. However, the Railways has not been allowing people to make use of the underpass, which can facilitate movement of two-wheelers and four-wheelers, Mr. Sanil said. He also said the Railways is not allowing the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) to extend a narrow road on the flanks of the track till Yekkur. If the road is extended till Yekkur, people could easily reach NH 66.

Sources at Southern Railway told The Hindu that it is proposed that the LC gate be closed after the laying of a new road from Kanakarabettu to the Jeppu-Kudpady RuB, work on which is already complete. People can move into the city through the RuB towards Marnamikatte, sources said. The Railways will also open the cattle underpass for movement of small vehicles, the sources added.

On the extension of the narrow road towards Yekkur, sources said if the MCC makes a proposal to lay a three-metre-wide concrete road, it would be approved.

However, a senior MCC official said that in reality, the Railways would impose several difficult-to-meet conditions in order to approve proposals. The MCC is making efforts to alleviate residents’ woes, the official said.