BSS-07 BR west zone implements Tk 47.84-cr level crossing project

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ZCZC

BSS-07

RAILWAY-LEVEL-CROSSING (with picture)

BR west zone implements Tk 47.84-cr level crossing project

RAJSHAHI, Sept 12, 2018 (BSS)-The west zone of Bangladesh Railway (BR) has
been implementing a Taka 47.84-crore level crossing rehabilitation project to
ensure safe and uninterrupted movement of rail and road traffic by upgrading
and manning the proposed level crossing gates.

To decrease the running time of passengers train by upgrading the level
crossing gates and thus improving the sectional capacity to a large extent is
another goal of the project.

To this end, more than 326 level crossings are being rehabilitated,
constructed and upgraded along with necessary gate keepers, said Mostafizur
Rahman, Executive Engineer.

The project has provision of appointing 851 gatekeepers through
outsourcing besides construction and reconstruction of 4,976.50 square-meters
corner-rooms and repairing of 47,793 square-meters road surface attached to
the level crossing. Appointing process of the gatekeepers is at the final
stage.

Implementation work on installing 312-set gate barriers and 5508 wooden
sleepers along with necessary signaling system and other instruments is
progressing fast.

Md Romzan Ali, chief engineer of the zone, said level crossing gates are
very much sensitive and important part of railway operation which are prone
to accidents.

In spite of following strict safety rules, accidents are taking place
frequently due to many reasons causing human casualties, damage to government
and private properties.

Upgrading and repairing of the existing gates and construction of the new
ones have become an urgent need for converting the unauthorized level
crossing gates into authorized ones to reduce the possibilities of accidents.

Engineer Romzan says up-gradation and manning the level crossing gates
will ensure the utmost safety for rail and road traffic users especially for
poor and vulnerable. There is an urgent need to save the human lives which
are endangered over the long periods when accident occurs at level crossing
gates.

“When a road is linked across the railway track, it is mandatory that the
departments concerned arrange a meeting with the railway department about
coordination of the matter. But the provision is hardly followed,” he said.

Sometimes unruly drivers, eager to pass level crossings in haste, even
attack gatemen when they put barriers at level crossings, he said.

The poorly paid people, hardly getting any motivation for their work, do
not regularly attend their duty at respective rail crossings to control
traffic movement, added the railway official.

Collision between moving trains and road transports often leads to
casualties and damage of vehicles as in absence of gatemen, drivers of buses
and other vehicles tend to hastily pass level crossings even when they see a
fast approaching train at a near distance.

Upon its successful implementation by June, 2019, the project will provide
signaling arrangement especially in highway level crossing gates to avoid
accidents that is very important in the present context, expected Engineer
Ali.

BSS/SPL/AH/AKM 1300hrs