Western Rly launches SMS campaign to curb trespassing

Western Railway has launched a campaign under which it will send one crore SMSes in a month to spread awareness against trespassing.

Western Railway has launched a campaign under which it will send one crore SMSes in a month to spread awareness against trespassing.

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"Western Railway has launched an SMS campaign to spread awareness among the commuters against the dangers of trespassing. It is aimed at educating the public on trespassing and persuade them to not cross the railway tracks," it said in a statement.

Western Railway has provided 87 foot over bridges (FOBs) and six subways between Churchgate and Virar and in 2010-11, three new FOBs were provided while three are under construction and eight new FOBs are sanctioned, it said.

A few more FOBs are in various stages of planning, it added.

These SMSes will contain warning, emotional appeal as well as request to use foot over bridges or subways.

Trespassing is not only dangerous but also fatal and Western Railway has been regularly undertaking awareness campaigns through Nukkad Nataks, Radio Spots on FM Channels, announcement at stations to highlight the issue and create an impact in the minds of the people, the statement said.

Several NGOs have shown interest and participated in organising such campaigns at stations. WR is also making a short film in association with Films Division to educate people against the evils of trespassing, it said.

The SMSes will be sent in the morning hours when people generally undertake commuting in trains, thus the SMSes will have direct impact and will be helpful in persuading the rail users to abstain from trespassing, it added.