The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Campaign launched to curb accidents at level-crossings

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Campaign launched to curb accidents at level-crossings

By S. Anil Radhakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 8 . The Railways have initiated a series of steps to counsel road users using manned and unmanned level crossings in the Railway Division in view of the rise in the number of accidents at level crossing gates.

Along with measures to enhance the safety of rail commuters and road users, the Railways have started prosecuting road-users and motorists who flout Section 131 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and Section 161 of the Railways Act, 1989.

As many as 32 accidents where motor vehicles rammed into closed level-crossing gates have been reported in the division during the last six months. Of these, 12 accidents occurred during December 2004 and January this year. The vehicles that were involved in the accidents were motorcycles, autorickshaws, lorries, jeeps, minibuses, private and KSRTC buses.

On February 2, a school van rammed into the level-crossing gate between Kochuveli and Kazhakkuttom causing disruption of train services. A major mishap was averted, as schoolchildren were not in the van when the accident occurred.

"Criminal cases were registered against road-users involved in the incident, but the Railways have to bear the loss of safety and punctuality in operations," the Senior Divisional Safety Officer, A. Gopinathan, told The Hindu . There have also been several instances of road-users quarrelling and threatening the personnel manning the level-crossing to open the gate.

The accidents at unmanned level crossings owing to negligence on the part of road-users are also cause for concern. There are 168 unmanned level-crossings in the division. As many as four accidents were reported at the unmanned level-crossing between April 2004 and January this year, sources said.

Interlocking gates

Lifting barriers, each costing Rs. 2.6 lakhs, have replaced the "swing gates" at level-crossings. The Railways have also started interlocking the gates by providing signals to further reduce the detention time. As many as 109 level crossings have been interlocked and 19 level-crossings are under the process of interlocking.

Traffic personnel have been posted at high-risk points such as Idappally. At Killipalam gate in the capital, a public address system has been installed to inform the road-users about the approaching train.

Provision of retro-reflective boards, improving road surface, continuous whistling by drivers, restricting speed of trains wherever visibility is poor, installation of warning boards and speed control devices are the measures being taken to improve safety.

As many as 42 level-crossings, which have more than one lakh Train Vehicle Unit, in the division qualify for replacement by Road Over/Under Bridges (ROB/RUBs) on cost-sharing basis with the State Government, according to the Divisional Railway Manager, G. Narayanan. Of these, 21 have been sanctioned for replacement by ROB/RUBs.

The Railways are conducting safety campaigns at unmanned level-crossings to educate the road users. A joint drive was organised by the Railways and the Motor Vehicle Department as part of the Road Safety Awareness Week. The campaign and the drive to eliminate accidents at unmanned level crossings would continue Mr. Gopinathan added.

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