North Western Railway closes 31 level crossings in Rajasthan in October

The North Western Railway zone in October closed 31 level crossings, including 22 unmanned level crossings as part of rail safety

The North Western Railway zone in October closed 31 level crossings, including 22 unmanned level crossings as part of rail safety, an official said on Wednesday.

There are 496 level crossings in the North Western Railway zone, out of which 175 will be closed by the end of the financial year. Photo (Representative picture/HT File Photo.)

The other level crossing that were closed in the zone included six in the Bikaner division, 17 in Jodhpur division, two in Jodhpur division and six in Jaipur division, said Tarun Jain, chief public relations officer at the North Western Railway.

In 2016-17, as many as 148 level crossings were closed by building 163 sub ways, under bridges, low height subways and in the current fiscal until now, 72 level crossings have been closed, he said.

There are 496 level crossings in the North Western Railway region, out of which 175 will be closed by the end of the financial year, he said.

“The North Western Railway is committed to reducing the risk of accidents for which it has appointed home guards as ‘gate mitras’ or gate friends who guide commuters at unmanned level crossings to cross the tracks.”

Commuters are told to stop their vehicles more than 20m before the unmanned level crossing and only cross the tracks after ensuring that no train is coming, he said.

The railways are making efforts to close all level crossings by building subways, railway under bridge, railway over bridge and low height subways, so that accidents can be reduced, he said.

“70% of the accidents take place at the unmanned level crossings.”

He further said with closing of level crossings the speed of the train will be affected, instead the journey time of trains can be reduced.