Sidhu writes to Piyush Goyal, seeks high fencing, CCTVs along rail tracks

Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Thursday wrote a letter to Railways minister Piyush Goyal, seeking high fencing and installation of CCTV cameras along rail tracks to prevent accidents.

Sidhu also offered to take up the matter with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for any help from the state government in this regard.

"There is an urgent need to have high fencing along the rail tracks, especially in the urban areas that are densely populated, so that nobody crosses the rail tracks and many of the accidents are avoided," he said.

Sidhu's demand comes after a train ran through a crowd of Dussehra revellers that had spilled onto railway tracks while watching the burning of a Ravana effigy in Amritsar on October 19, killing nearly 60 people.

"We should have CCTVs along the rail tracks in densely populated areas and ensure that the patrolling along the tracks by RPF/GRP is enhanced to ensure that the rail tracks are always clear," the minister said.

He said the efficient use of technology can be of great help to prevent accidents.

"Other than this, I also suggest that the Railways must use open carriages regularly to keep a check on the rail tracks," Sidhu wrote.

The minister also cited an example of fencing of the Mumbai-Pune highway, saying, "We need to fence the sensitive areas around the rail tracks to ensure that no damage is caused."