A senior official of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) visited a couple of locations in Siliguri on Monday to address local issues such as the demand for an overbridge on railway tracks and lack of maintenance at a level crossing.

Sanjay Chilwarwar, the additional divisional railway manager (ADRM) of the NFR posted in New Jalpaiguri, visited Bagrakot near Siliguri Town station, and Fuleswari, which has a level crossing. He was accompanied by railway officials and Shankar Ghosh, the BJP MLA of Siliguri.

At Bagrakot, where there is an unmanned level crossing, there is a longstanding demand for an underpass or an overbridge to connect the area with Deshbandhupara on the other side of the tracks.

“We can’t cross the tracks even on a two-wheeler and have to take a long detour to reach the other side. Hundreds in Bagrakot face this inconvenience daily, as do hundreds in Deshbandhupara. The railways should consider the demand and make either an underpass or an overbridge,” said Shyamal Barman, a resident of Bagrakot.

Ghosh, the MLA, said he requested the ADRM to consider the demand of residents for easier commuting.

“He agreed to consider the issue and will check the technical viability of the demand while keeping in mind the safety of railway operations. We hope the issue will be resolved,” said Ghosh.

The ADRM said they would see if a food overbridge could be built over the tracks. “We will conduct a survey for a foot overbridge. There are two level crossings nearby (Mahabirstan and Fuleswari) within 1km. We have to consider safety issues as well,” said the official.

He also reached Fuleswari, where repairs of concrete pavers at the level crossing started on Monday. “The work will end in two weeks. For now, residents should use the underpass,” he said.