RailEnquiry

MUMBAI: The Western Railway (WR) recently launched a major awareness campaign for safety of citizens at the railway level crossings.

Several accidents have been reported at the unmanned level crossings and this has prompted railway officials to launch a campaign. Besides, India is a member country of the International Union of Railways. The motto of the international union for this year is "Act safely at level crossings". The Railway officials here observed May 7 as 'International level crossing awareness' day. The safety department of WR is spearheading the campaign.

Said WR chief public relations officer Sharat Chandrayan, "In order to create awareness at maximum number of railway level crossings, we have launched a campaign at all the six WR divisions. The objective is to educate people about the dangers of crossing unmanned level crossings without caution."

He further stated : "In the interest of passenger safety, it is necessary for cars and other vehicles to stop before a railway crossing and watch carefully for the incoming train from either sides and then cross the level crossing safely."

"With a view to spread awareness, the campaign will be conducted among school and college students and also at the village panchayat level," the official stated. Also, the WR plans to distribute pamphlets informing motorists about the necessary precautions to be taken while crossing an unmanned railway gate.