Chennai: The Southern Railway has declared that it has become unmanned level crossing free zone.
According to railway sources, this feat was achieved after the Railway Board formulated a policy in 2010 to do away with all the unmanned level crossings from the division to prevent accidents. The unmanned level crossings are often crossed carelessly by numerous people.
Throughout the year, several deaths were reported. To curb this, the Railway Board decided to take steps by ensuring that the entire Southern Railway division is unmanned level crossing free.
According to railway sources, as on 1 September 2017, there were about 311 unmanned level crossings that existed in the Southern Railway division. As per the directives from Minister of Railway, they were targeted to be set right by September 2018.
During the first quarter of the current year, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai Divisions were the first to become unmanned level crossing free. As on 30 September, the Southern Railway has done away with all 311 unmanned level crossings.
According to a press release, the number of unmanned level crossing that were diverted to subways were 156, while about 27 were diverted to other roads. Three unmanned level crossings were closed due to low traffic, while about 125 were manned .
A report revealed by Southern Railway sources added that from 2010 and until September 2018, about 1,054 unmanned level crossings have been done away in a phase-by-phase manner by providing alternate ways to cross the track. It is being done through subways and also by creating diversion to the adjacent manned level crossings.