Staff Reporter
The Pakistan Railways has initiated a campaign to create awareness among people about trespassing and crossing of railway track.
The Railways Directorate of Public Relations arranged a trip of journalists to show the manned and unmanned level-crossings at different places on Saturday where detailed briefing was given to them.
Director Public Relations Nazia Jabeen briefed the media persons that the Railways always gives importance to the life safety of citizens and its passengers.
She said that 464 out of about 800 level-crossings in the PR Lahore Division were unmanned, where no attendant was present and the citizens cross the railway track on their own responsibility.
Whereas, she said, gates had been installed at the rest of the level crossings where attendants were appointed to close the gate before the arrival of the trains.
She appealed to citizens to stop at level-crossing before crossing the track, look on both sides of the track and wait for the train to pass if any train was coming.
Deputy Chief Operating Superintendent Tariq Aziz Kolachi told journalists that the PR has taken several steps for safety of citizens and passengers.
He said that double whistle boards have been provided on 185 level-crossings where train drivers were bound to play horn to warn the road users about train arrival.
He said that special warning boards have also been displayed for train drivers at 134 non-interlocked level-crossings where drivers had to decrease speed of the train.
Moreover, he said that gangmen have been appointed at 96 vulnerable unmanned level-crossings to alert road users about arrival of train during foggy weather.
Mr Kolachi said that fencing has been made at 970 points along the track by erecting sleepers and rails while trenches have been dug at 277 points to restrict the citizens from trespassing.
He said that 54 un-manned level-crossings have been permanently closed down due to vulnerability after a survey. He said that at least 220 FIRs have been registered so far against citizens over trespassing.
