CONCERNED OVER the rise in the incidents of fatality at unmanned level crossings, the North Central Railway (NCR) is planning to permanently close many such crossings that are not frequented by vehicle users.
The railway authorities have identified as many as 19 unmanned level crossings in the branch lines of the Allahabad division where movement of the road users is almost nil.
According to sources, "NCR carried out a week-long survey of all its unmanned level crossing under its jurisdiction to determine the frequency of vehicles using them. Much to the surprise, the authorities found that there were 19 such unmanned level crossings where the train-vehicle unit, calculated by taking the number of vehicles passing through the unmanned level crossing and multiplied by the number of trains passing through the same crossing, was zero."
The survey found that though trains were passing through the crossings none of the vehicle users actually crossed it and also that these crossings were not being used by the road users and were simply becoming a cause of accidents.
According to railway records, the number of fatalities at such unmanned level crossings this year have increased alarmingly. One death has been reported during the month of April-June 2006 as against no such causality reported during the same period last year.
{{/usCountry}}According to railway records, the number of fatalities at such unmanned level crossings this year have increased alarmingly. One death has been reported during the month of April-June 2006 as against no such causality reported during the same period last year.
{{/usCountry}}With an aim to check such casualities at these crossings, post survey the NCR has decided to close all such crossings. Sources claim that the Railway Board too has expressed concern over such accidents and has directed the NCR officials to take steps to check the accidents.
However, before taking any measures with regard to closing of these crossings, the NCR will have to get the approval of Commissioner of Railway Safety and the civil authorities concerned.
In another bid to check accidents at railway crossings, the NCR is also planning to construct Road Over Bridges (ROB) and Road Under Bridges (RUB) at those unmanned levelled crossings where there is heavy traffic.
"There are eight such unmanned levelled crossings in the branch line of the division where the survey has revealed heavy movement of traffic. Out of these eight crossings, work on three of them has already been sanctioned. The railway officials have approached the State Government to initiate work on the remaining five too", said the sources.
On being contacted Divisional Railway Manager, NCR SK Chaudhary said, "Efforts are being made for quite a long time to close the unmanned levelled crossings where traffic movement is negligible."