GUWAHATI: As many as 628 unauthorised track crossings under the jurisdiction of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) pose a threat to the safety of passengers and train movement even as the railway has eliminated all unmanned level crossing gates.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, NFR, while expressing concern, said that as the unauthorised crossings are not adequately protected, there have been a number of deaths because of speeding trains dashing against road vehicles.
The NFR statement informed that the collision between a Tata Magic and the 15647 Up Lokmanya Tilak Terminous-Guwahati Express took place at an unauthorised crossing between Basugaon and Dangtol station near Bongaigaon on Sunday morning leading to the death of two people and causing serious injury to another apart from affecting train movements.
“Since these are not designated crossings, people who suffer injury or loss of life while crossing are not entitled to any form of compensation from the railway,” it said.
While level crossings are designated spots which are designed to facilitate the safe passage of road vehicles, the unauthorised crossings are which locals build across the track where the trains are not supposed to slow down.
Out of the total 628 un-authorised crossings within N.F. Railway, 374 are in Assam, 194 are in West Bengal and 60 are in Bihar.
“Of the 374 un-authorised crossings in Assam, 263 are in Tinsukia Division, 76 are in Rangiya Division, 24 are in Lumding Division and 11 are in Alipurduar Division. Of the 194 un-authorised crossings in West Bengal, 146 are in Katihar Division, 48 are in Alipurduar Division. 60 un-authorised crossings in Bihar are within Katihar Division,” the statement issued by NFR, said.
“At a time when sectional speeds of trains are being increased and more and more high speed premium trains are being run, such trespassing has posed a major threat to train safety. Loss of punctuality is also a result of such trespassing as trains have to be slowed down regularly at some of these locations,” it said.
