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700 level-crossings in railway west zone lack gatemen


Published : 14 Nov 2019 10:04 PM | Updated : 30 Aug 2020 09:25 PM

More than 700 level crossings in the western region of Bangladesh Railway including Khulna, Rajshahi and Raangpur, are operating without gatemen.

Sources said 715 level-crossings do not have gatemen, which are increasing the risks of deadly accidents, reports UNB.

The authorities concerned have hung warning signs in these areas.

Another 339 unauthorized level-crossings lack warning signs, which has intensified the risk level for movements of vehicles and pedestrians. The railway took a five-year project to improve the level-crossings in the western region in July, 2015.

However, on July 15 this year, 11 people were killed after "Padma Express" from Rajshahi hit a microbus carrying a bridal party at Ullapara in Sirajganj under the Railway's west zone.

Chief Engineer of Railway West zone Al Fattah Mohammad Masudur Rahman said: "There are 1,034 authorized level-crossings but only 319 of them had gatemen."

Railway officials also added that the number of unauthorized level-crossings increased because of the construction of new roads beside rail tracks.

The railways officials mentioned: “Although, permission is needed from the railways to construct road over the tracks, government agencies usually do not follow the rule."

"Several meetings with the authorities concerned have yielded no result."

Director of a project to improve level-crossings in the west zone,Executive Engineer Mostafizur Rahman said unauthorized and unsafe level-crossings are soon set to be made safer.

Under the project, the authorities have taken necessary measures to approve 53 unauthorized level-crossings, and appoint gatemen to 204 others, he said.

General Manager of Railway West zone Abdul Awal Bhuiya said some level-crossings do not have gatemen and the authorities concerned have kept them operational by recruiting people on temporary basis. He hoped the implementation of the ongoing project will solve the problem.