Title - Unmanned level crossings to be manned by next year

Unmanned level-crossings in the Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division will be manned and some of them closed down by next year, Rajesh Agrawal, Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Manager, said here on Monday. The Division would also require 90 rail over bridges (RoBs) within the next two years, he said.
Addressing a press conference in connection with Sunday’s train and car collision at Aroor which left five dead, he said that the Thiruvananthapuram Division had 80 unmanned level crossings in all. Of these, it is theoretically possible to close at least 50, but that would  be impractical, he said.
“Some we will close after discussions with the people’s representatives. Others will be manned,” Agrawal said. “We have identified at least 25 level crossings which are quite close to each other. We have initiated discussions with the panchayats, the District Collectors and people’s representatives on this issue.”  Incidentally, the ill-fated level crossing at Aroor was slated to be manned within a week. The crossing was converted into a manned one overnight on Sunday after the accident, he said.
On compensation to the families of the victims of Sunday’s accident, Agrawal said that the claims could be decided only on the basis of the Motor Vehicles Act.
RoB: Agrawal said that the Division needs not less than 90 RoBs within the next two years. Forty RoBs were lying unfinished at present.
AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS: The Division has launched awareness drives in the context of Sunday’s mishap to control ‘errant motorists’ to eliminate accidents and to generate awareness about safety through an intensive campaign in the media, Agrawal said.