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Railway Dept tells LG authorities:
Install gates to avert accidents
by Ananda KANNANGARA
The Railway Department has called upon Local Government authorities
to install either automatic rail gates or bamboo gates at unprotected
railway crossings countrywide to avert accidents in the future.
Referring to Friday's train-truck collision at the unprotected
railway crossing at Devananda Road, Maharagama on the Kelani Valley
Line, where a 58-year old truck driver died on the spot and a 12-year
old girl sustained serious injuries, Railway Superintendent Vijaya
Samarasinghe said that nearly 706 unprotected railway crossings have
been identified in the country's rural and even thickly populated areas.
"All roads countrywide belong to Provincial Councils and Pradeshiya
Sabhas and not the Railway Department. Therefore, it is the
responsibility of the local authorities to provide adequate protection
to vehicle owners and pedestrians," he said.Quoting a few incidents
which occurred due to the negligence of vehicle owners at protected
railway crossings, Samarasinghe said that action had been taken against
such vehicle owners for proceeding when the gates were closed.
The Superintendent said that they had brought this matter to the
notice of the Local authorities and as soon as the funds are received,
they would install power operated permanent gates, automatic barriers
and also low cost bamboo gates considering the population in those
areas.
He said a railway gate with signal lights costs around Rs. 100,000
and the Department has also taken steps to install gates at the main
railway crossings without waiting for the Local authorities to carry out
the job.
The Railway Department has taken steps to demolish unauthorised
constructions including parapet walls, high-rise buildings and houses
which are in close proximity to railway crossings for the benefit of
motorists and pedestrians to have a clear view of approaching trains.
He said unauthorised constructions, overgrown shrubs and trees near
railway crossings also block the view on either side. |
