Khurda Road Railway Division eliminates all unmanned level crossing gates

Bhubaneswar: In order to enhance safety of both road and rail users and also to save human lives from train accidents at Unmanned Level Crossing Gates (UMLCs), Khurda Road Railway Division of East Coast Railway has eliminated all the UMLCs from its jurisdiction by March, 2018, before the target period.

Ministry of Railways have set target to eliminate all Unmanned Level Crossing Gates before 2020. In view of the above, the Division has fulfilled the target by eliminating all the gates and created a record in East Coast Railway.

Giving highest priority to Rail-Road safety and to reduce mishaps and human casualties, Khurda Road Railway Division has eliminated 297 Unmanned Level Crossings during last four years i.e. from 1^stApril 2014 to 31^st March, 2018. Out of which, 43 UMLCs were closed, 38 by providing Road Under Bridges (RUBs) or by Limited Height Sub-ways (LHSs), 27 by Diversion and 189 UMLCs were manned.

In view of the rising accidents and casualties of human lives at Unmanned Level Crossings, Ministry of Railways had planned to eliminate or close all the Unmanned Level Crossing Gates by 2020.

From, August, 2014 o­nwards, Khurda Road Division has deployed Gate Mitras/Gate Counsellors at 74 vulnerable/sensitive Level Crossing Gates to prevent accidents and alert commuters about the approaching trains. Recently, all the Gate Mitras/Safety Counsellors have been provided with Dress Code i.e. fluorescent Safety Jackets.