‘Gate mitras’ to avoid accidents at unmanned level crossings in NE

Agartala:  As a precursor to remvoing all the 10,440 unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) across the country by 2020, a beginning is being made in Assam by deploying a ‘gate mitras’ – literally friend at the gate – at six such places in Assam to bring down accidents, an official said.
“Assam’s Tinsukia division of Northeast Frontier Railway NFR has recently deployed gate Mitras at six UMLC gates to ensure safety of road uses. Gradually gate mitras would be deployed at other places in the northeastern states,” NFR chief public relations officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma told IANS.”
To avoid accidents, gate mitras have been deployed at such UMLCs where the road traffic is high and there are apprehensions of mishaps,” he added. The gate Mitras would be paid Rs.7,000 to Rs.10,000 per month. They would stay at a nearby railway station or a government building and would be provided a schedule as to when they should be at the crossing. The railways would provide them with a uniform, alongwith a high-power light, a flag and a whistle to eanble them warn oncoming road traffic of an approaching train.
Selection of gate mitras would be through outsourcing from manpower providers, the official said.
Sharma said the gate mitras are primarily meant to counsel road users to be vigilant while crossing UMLCs. To this end, they would also distribute safety pamphlets. (IANS)