581 unmanned level crossings in SCR to be eliminated by 2017

An action plan has been chalked out by the South Central Railway (SCR) to eliminate 581 unmanned level crossings under its jurisdiction by 2017.
SCR General Manager P K Srivastava directed the Divisional Railway Managers (DRM) to closely monitor the progress of work on elimination of the unmanned railway level crossings (UMLCs).
Chairing a high-level Safety Review Meeting through video conference with DRMs of the six divisions under SCR -- Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntur, Guntakal and Nanded at Rail Nilayam here, Srivastava said so far, SCR has eliminated 601 UMLC's and an action plan has been drawn to eliminate all remaining 581 unmanned crossings by 2017.

The decision was taken in the wake of last year's tragedy at the Masaipet unmanned level crossing in Medak district in Telangana where 16 school children lost their lives in a bus-train collision, according to an SCR release.
Srivastava stressed on various aspects pertaining to rail safety in SCR and stated that there would be "zero tolerance" on the matter.
He said that counselling of safety category staff is of paramount importance, and directed the DRMs to conduct safety seminars to sensitise the staff involved in train operations.

The senior official further said that safety drives shall be taken up with focus on critical aspects like exchange of signals, movement of trains in yards, giving adequate rest to crew before taking up duty etc.

He cautioned that negligence or any violation of safety norms during the course of discharging duties by staff shall be viewed very seriously and action will be initiated for any dereliction.
He also reviewed the status of provision of safety devices like 'audio-visual alarm' to alert the station masters to set the point against the occupied line and approach warning devices for gatemen at inter-lock level crossing.