Southern Railway has postponed the closing of level crossing gate at Tholampalayam near Karamadai station to May 6, in deference to a request to that effect by the Police Department.

The closure, as per the earlier announcement, was to have taken effect on April 29.

In a representation to the Railways, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mettupalayam Sub-Division, said the permanent closure of the level crossing gate prior to May 4, the day of counting of votes, would cause difficulty in maintaining law and order.

“Given the sensitive nature of the election result period, our entire police force is required to be on high alert and fully deployed for security and law and order duties. Initiating a road closure at this specific time would not only complicate logistical movements, but also stretch our available manpower thin,” the DSP said in a the representation to the Railways.

Requesting the authorities to temporarily postpone closure of the level crossing gate, the senior police official said it will be conducive for providing security arrangements (at the level crossing gate) after the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections

Southern Railway had announced the closure of level crossing 11 at Mettupalayam end at Karamadai station for undertaking construction of ROB sanctioned as part of the yard remodelling work for extension of platform and tracks.

The works entail increasing clear standing length of RD-1 and RD-2 to 715 metres each with single phase high-level platform.

Till the works are completed, the public will be required to utilise the ROB at a distance at Mettupalayam end and ROB and Limited Use Subway at Coimbatore end for uninterrupted movement.