Railway Line Squatters To Be Evicted Soon

Encroachers on the country�s railway lines are reminded that the impending demolishing of structures in the demarcated areas will eventually be carried out to pave the way for expansion of railway lines in the country. In an interview with The Spectator, Mr Dan Markin, the board chairman of the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) said the exercise was long overdue, adding that the continued stay of the encroachers would deprive law-abiding Ghanaians the services of an efficient and reliable rail transport system. Mr Dan Markin said the selfish interest of a minority could not be allowed to override the good intentions of majority of Ghanaians as well as the state in general.He advised against the practice of encroaching on government lands for private development. He asked those involved to desist from the practice since they could face demolishing of their structures including the imposition of heavy fines. Mr Dan Markin said �it is our programme that by next year, work should commence on the expansion and rehabilitation of existing railway and the construction of new lines. At least within the next three years reasonably serviced lines should be operational in the country. We also envisage the expansion of our railway system to link the regions and possibly our neighboring countries.� He warned that those who fall within the 50 feet range of the railway zone would not be spared from the demolishing exercise which would not be spared from the demolishing exercise which would take place next week. Mr Dan Markin has, therefore, appealed to those who would be caught up in the exercise to as a matter of urgency evacuate all valuable items from their structures before the demolishing exercise begins. He, however, warned that should the metropolitan authorities incur any cost at the end of the programme which it may like o pass on to the sector, then the GRDA would have no choice than to pass on the cost to the encroachers. Mr Dan Markin indicated that this practice would, however, serve as a deterrent to Ghanaians who are currently encroaching on railway lines and property that the long arms of the law would catch up with them very soon.He said the sector will soon be calling on all Ghanaians to support by raising enough revenue for the development of an efficient railway system which would bring untold benefit to school children who could go to school without paying for the rail transport and workers could get to work early. He said the GRDA is certain and poised to save the rampant damage of our roads due to excessive weight from the goods which are carried daily on our roads.He cautioned all to desist from the purchase of any property belonging to the GRDA since the people would be doing that at their detriment. The impending demolishing exercise is being organised by the Ministry of Transport the Ghana Railway Development Authority and the Ghana Railway Company Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council and the Accra Metropolitan Authority. The Ministry has given adequate information to the encroachers through radio, television and newspaper publications as well as several ejection notices to those concerned. The time allowed for encroachers to quit expires on Thursday, October 15.