South Central Railway (SCR) General Manager PK Srivastava reviewed with the Principal Heads of the Departments concerned on the progress of works for eliminating the unmanned railway level crossings on SCR.
Expressing serious concern over the accident that occurred on Thursday near Masaipet crossing, the General Manager stressed on the urgent need to speed up works related to removal of unmanned crossings. He specifically focused on the crossings where necessary infrastructure has already been made ready or nearing completion and issued clear directions to the officials that manning of these unmanned crossings shall be completed within a week’s time.
In tune with the policy of Railways to eliminate all unmanned railway level crossings, South Central Railway has eliminated 514 such rail-road crossings in the last 4 years. At present, there are 640 unmanned level crossings on SCR and action plan to eliminate each of them is under implementation. It is targeted to remove all the remaining unmanned crossings by FY 2016-17.
The General Manager instructed that all possible methods/alternatives shall be employed in quick removal of unmanned crossings in view of the safety risks associated with these locations. The means being adopted in eliminating unmanned level crossings include – manning with a gate barrier; construction of limited height subways; diversion to a nearby gate and closing down where the traffic density is very less. To expedite this process, the field position of the works related to removal of unmanned level crossings is being closely monitored on a daily basis at the highest levels of SCR’s administration.
Further, publicity campaigns through various Media towards spreading public awareness on the safe procedure to be followed while crossing unmanned level crossings have also been intensified. The simple act (STOP, LOOK, PROCEED) of stopping short of an unmanned level crossing, looking on both sides for any approaching train and crossing only when it is safe to do so by the road users will go a long way in avoiding any accidents at these crossings.
The works of fixing gate barriers and other requisite apparatus have already been undertaken at the unmanned level crossing No.233 near Masaipet. It is targeted to complete the works and man the gate within one week. (INN)