Alappuzha: Six days after the railway gate at Thuravur— the key link between the National Highway and the coastal highway— was shut for track renovation, work at the site has remained stalled for three days, causing major inconvenience to daily commuters.

The Thuravur railway gate on the Thuravur–TD road is one of the busiest stretches in the region. Private buses running between Ernakulam and Cherthala use this route after taking a turn from the National Highway at the Thuravur junction. The road is also used by goods carriers and by employees of nearly 50 seafood processing units, as well as teachers and students from educational institutions in Thuravur TD, Nalukulangara and nearby areas.

With the gate closed, commuters are now forced to stop at the barricade, change vehicles, and continue their journey from the opposite side. Passengers heading to the Thuravur railway station are particularly affected, having to walk almost 400 metres from the gate to reach the station.

The closure has also hit those travelling from the National Highway to TD, Chavadi and Nalukulangara, who depend on this route. Railway officials had initially announced that the gate would be shut from November 20 to 24, but the delay in reopening has triggered protests. Locals allege that no work has taken place at the site for the past three days.

Railway officials clarified that the contractor had diverted all labourers to another worksite near the Thakazhi rail gate. Residents are now demanding that the renovation be completed without further delay and that the gate be reopened immediately to restore normal traffic flow.