RailEnquiry

JAIPUR: In an effort to curb fatal accidents at unmanned level crossings, the engineering department of North Western Railway has decided to remove all such crossings by March 2015.According to sources, presently there are 1,291 unmanned level crossings in the state, which would either be closed or converted to manned ones. Otherwise, overbridges or underpasses would be constructed."Nearly 69 unmanned level crossings were removed by March 2012 and by the end of March 2013, we will remove 256 more level-crossings in the state. It would be done either by closure, manning, merging or replacing with a road underbridge or rail overbridge," said a senior officer of NWR.Authorities from the engineering department said that in many of the unmanned crossings, there are land related issues which would be sorted out with the state government. "There are many unmanned level crossings where we need to construct railway overbridge and that would be done in partnership with the state government. We are in constant touch with the state government to get the work done," he said.Early this year, general manager, NWR, RC Agarwal had said that as a safety measure, the NWR will not have a single unmanned level crossing by 2015.The zone had already taken up extensive awareness campaign through distribution of pamphlets, posters and road side plays to create awareness among people for abiding by rules and norms.