Title - Warnings to check track crossing fail, 3,000 caught so far this year

PUNE: The many safety warnings notwithstanding, people continue to cross railway tracks. As many as 3,159 cases of trespassing on tacks have been registered in Pune division in the last seven months, and 300 lives lost so far this year. The most recent death was incidentally that of a railway official, deputy station superintendent Ramkesh Meena, who was run over by a passenger train while crossing the track at Dehu Road station on Sunday afternoon.Railway officials attribute illegal track crossing as one of the leading causes of these deaths. They said about 451 cases of illegal track crossing have been registered each month this year, most of which were booked at major stations, including Pune, Shivajinagar, Chinchwad, Pimpri and Hadapsar.

Last year, the railway administration had recorded 3,671 cases of illegal crossing of tracks in the first seven months. Though the numbers have reduced to some extent, officials here said that many people still choose to take short cuts instead of using foot over bridges (FOBs).The administration said trespassing incidents are high at all stations between Pune and Lonavla, the busiest section in the division. All stations on this stretch have FOBs, but commuters avoid using them. At some places, unidentified persons have even breached walls in order to cross the tracks.

"The administration collected a fine of Rs 4.05 lakh in the cases booked so far this year. About 35 offenders who failed to pay the fine were sent to jail. A person can be fined Rs 1,000 and imprisoned for a maximum period of six months if they are caught crossing tracks illegally. People should use FOBs or manned crossing-gates to avoid accidents on tracks," a railway official said.

The division has identified some 'vulnerable' spots on the Pune-Lonavla, Pune-Daund and Kolhapur sections. Engine drivers have been instructed to honk at these spots and display boards have been put up at sensitive points, telling people to refrain from trespassing.

The division has also initiated steps to phase out unmanned level crossings. Five gates have been closed so far this year and all level crossing gates along the Pune-Lonavla and Pune-Daund routes are manned.

However, railway authorities said that people put their lives at risk at level crossings even when gates are closed for a train to pass.