Railway to reform 380 illegal level crossings
Arafat Ara | Sunday, 20 March 2011
Arafat Ara
Bangladesh Railway (BR) plans to reform around 380 unauthorised level crossings to check road accidents in the country, said a senior official Thursday. He said there are 1083 unauthorised level crossings across the country, which are responsible for increasing number of road accidents. Apart from unauthorised level crossings, there are 1042 authorised crossings that are also in a bad condition. "We have taken steps to do away with a large number of unauthorised level crossings and reform some vulnerable ones immediately to check road accidents in the country," said the BR official seeking anonymity. Around 89 unauthorised level crossings in the eastern part of the country and 291 in the western part out of 380 level crossings will be reformed, he said. Different government departments established the level crossings in different times violating the Railway Act. According to the railway engineering code 2028, if any authority sets up any level crossing, it will bear all costs on account of it. But the authorities that had established different level crossings without taking permission from the Railway never bothered for their proper maintenance and repair, the official added. According to the Railway Act, he said, they could have closed down the unauthorised level crossings completely, but this could hamper communication severely. That is why they will reform some crossings on an emergency basis. Under the circumstances, the Railway authority will ensure security of unauthorised level crossings gradually and a few may be closed down, he told the FE. He also said there are no gatemen and gate barriers in 1042 authorised level crossings out of 1412 across the country. The official said they have chalked out a plan to establish 451 gate barriers and appoint 2557 gatemen at authorised level crossings as soon as possible. He said the BR had already submitted a Development Project Proposal (DPP) to the Planning Commission for approval last month. He said within two years they will be able to ensure security at all the level crossings. "There will be no further unauthorised level crossings in the country. In this connection, we are taking proper measures," he added. According to media reports during the last five years around 76 people were killed and 217 injured in train accidents. Most of these accidents occurred at unauthorised as well as authorised level crossings.
Bangladesh Railway (BR) plans to reform around 380 unauthorised level crossings to check road accidents in the country, said a senior official Thursday. He said there are 1083 unauthorised level crossings across the country, which are responsible for increasing number of road accidents. Apart from unauthorised level crossings, there are 1042 authorised crossings that are also in a bad condition. "We have taken steps to do away with a large number of unauthorised level crossings and reform some vulnerable ones immediately to check road accidents in the country," said the BR official seeking anonymity. Around 89 unauthorised level crossings in the eastern part of the country and 291 in the western part out of 380 level crossings will be reformed, he said. Different government departments established the level crossings in different times violating the Railway Act. According to the railway engineering code 2028, if any authority sets up any level crossing, it will bear all costs on account of it. But the authorities that had established different level crossings without taking permission from the Railway never bothered for their proper maintenance and repair, the official added. According to the Railway Act, he said, they could have closed down the unauthorised level crossings completely, but this could hamper communication severely. That is why they will reform some crossings on an emergency basis. Under the circumstances, the Railway authority will ensure security of unauthorised level crossings gradually and a few may be closed down, he told the FE. He also said there are no gatemen and gate barriers in 1042 authorised level crossings out of 1412 across the country. The official said they have chalked out a plan to establish 451 gate barriers and appoint 2557 gatemen at authorised level crossings as soon as possible. He said the BR had already submitted a Development Project Proposal (DPP) to the Planning Commission for approval last month. He said within two years they will be able to ensure security at all the level crossings. "There will be no further unauthorised level crossings in the country. In this connection, we are taking proper measures," he added. According to media reports during the last five years around 76 people were killed and 217 injured in train accidents. Most of these accidents occurred at unauthorised as well as authorised level crossings.