Railway gates at 200 unsafe crossings

by Mohammed Naalir

Railway gates will be constructed at 200 unsafe level crossings which were identified vulnerable to frequent accidents. Rs. 1,000 million has been allocated for this program, Director of Planning of Railway Department Vijaya Samarasinghe said.

Nearly 900 unsafe level crossings have been identified throughout the country, Samarasinghe said. Priority will be given to the level crossings at cross-roads and the coastal railway trail according to Samarasinghe.

Accidents at unsafe level crossings had claimed several lives in the past, the Planning Director said.

He said that the assistance of Pradeshiya Sabhas and Provincial Councils will be obtained to protect the new rail gates.

Reckless driving, answering phone calls while driving, passing unsafe level crossings in a negligent manner and ignoring traffic regulations were the prime cause for accidents at unsafe railway crossings, a spokesman for the Railway Department said.