The Southern Railway plans to eliminate all the 294 unmanned level crossings in Madurai division by 2015-16.
Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, Divisional Railway Manager A.K. Rastogi said level crossings accounted for 40 per cent of train accidents, out of which 66 per cent resulted in fatalities.
In the first phase, 257 unmanned level crossings would be done away with by way of manning, construction of limited use subways, road overbridges and underbridges, diversion of road traffic, and closure of level crossings in 2014-15.
Mr. Rastogi said most of the accidents at the unmanned level crossings occurred owing to negligence of road users. “These accidents can be avoided if the road users showed a little bit of patience and care. Locomotive pilots blow whistles 600 metres ahead of manned and unmanned level crossings to alert road users. The trains run at a speed of 100 kmph and it will take only one minute for the train to cross 1,700 metres. It will be impossible for the pilots to apply brakes all of a sudden to prevent an accident,” he said.
Waiting at level crossings for a minute to check rail movement or to allow the trains to pass through would save precious lives, he also said.
Mr. Rastogi said senior officials would conduct awareness campaigns at unmanned level crossings between June 2 and 6 in connection with the International Level Crossing Awareness Day to be observed on June 3.
The railways had added a new catchline to its campaign material for creating awareness of unmanned level crossings. “The hoardings kept near the level crossings will read: ‘Your family is waiting for you at home.’ We believe this reminder, along with a picture of a woman and a girl, will have some impact on road users,” he said.
Senior Divisional Safety Officer A. Ravichandran said short films on accidents at level crossings were being screened at various places to create awareness. Additional Divisional Railway Manager R.V.B. Babu was present.
