New Delhi, 21 July 2014

In the State of Gujarat, there are 2140 unmanned level crossings. While the human deaths on unmanned level crossings are not maintained state-wise, the causalities on Western Railways during the last three years were 17 and the numbers of accidents were eight. Mr. Manoj Sinha, the Union Minister of State for Railways, informed Rajya Sabha in response to a question from Rajya Sabha Member, Mr. Parimal Nathwani today.

In a statement tabled in the House, the Minister informed that during last three years in Gujarat, total number of 29 railway bridges were completed, of which, seven were Road Over Bridges (ROB) and 22 were Road Under Bridge (RUB). He also said that there were 88 Railway Over Bridges and 458 Railway Under Bridges for which the work was in progress in the State of Gujarat.

The Minister stated that to honor the public sentiments so as to avoid accidents in unmanned level crossings, Railways have decided to progressively eliminate all unmanned level crossings by various means such as closure, merger, provision of subways, Road Over Bridges, Road Under Bridges and manning. The onus for safe movement from unmanned level crossing however is entirely on road users for which stringent provisions are laid in Sec.131 of Motor Vehicles Act and Sec.161 of Railways Act, the Minister added.