ECR plans to convert 82 unmanned rly crossings to manned ones

East Central Railway has decided to convert 82 unmanned gates to manned ones in the current financial year after considering the fact that over 40 per cent of accidents take place at such gates.
The Hajipur-based ECR has also decided to close 64 unmanned gates and convert them to either road over bridge or road underpass or build road diversion during 2014-15, an ECR statement said today.
ECR comprises five railway divisions -- Danapur, Mughalsarai, Dhanbad, Sonepur and Samastipur-- and has a total of 986 unmanned crossings.
The Railway Crossing Awareness Campaign is being celebrated from June 2 to June 6, ECR chief public relations officer Arvind Kumar Rajak said in the statement adding that banners, pamphlets and handbills were being distributed across the zone as part of the campaign.

People were being told that as per Section 131 of Motor Vehicle Act and 161 of Railway laws, crossing unmanned gates is a criminal offence which attracts penal action, it said.
Random checking were also being done to check alertness of gatemen in crossings, it said.
Arrangements have been made for speed breaker and rubber strips at railway crossings to force vehicles slow down.
Rajak said more than 5000 SMSes have also been sent to people on their mobile phones to make them aware of adopting precaution at level crossings.