ISLAMABAD: The government of Sindh has approved PC-I for the upgrading of 44 unmanned level crossings of Pakistan Railways at a cost of Rs565 million to prevent accidents and ensuring the safety of passengers as well as, general public.
“Funds of Rs103.928 million had been received for the upgrading of ten level crossings in the first phase. The agencies have been nominated and work will commence shortly on the projects,” an official source in the Ministry of Railways told APP.
“The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has also approved a PC-1 for the upgradation of six unmanned railway level crossings at a cost of Rs87 million,” he said adding that Rs1.2 million has also been received as preliminary charges and work will start once the full amount has been received.
According to sources, the Punjab government had released Rs610 million and Pakistan Railways upgraded 75 level crossings and has further approved PC-1 at the cost of Rs 1556 million for upgradation of another 150 unmanned level crossings.
“Rs 350 million have been provided for the upgradation of 34 level crossings in the first phase,” said the official.
“In Balochistan, no work has been undertaken to date because of the provincial government’s non-cooperation in this regard,” he said.
As per Railway Act 1890, the responsibility for up-gradation of unmanned level crossing lies with the concerned provincial governments and road authorities, for whom the ministry of Railways would provide all possible technical assistance, he added.
“More than 100 people including school children, women and men have lost their lives and 160 sustained injuries in around 800 accidents at manned and unmanned level crossings all over the country during last five years,” he further added.
He said that migration of rural population to towns, reduction of agricultural land near cities and their conversion into dwelling units, an increase in vehicles and the growing intolerance among the public primarily owing to inflation and unemployment were the main causes of rising accidents at the unmanned level crossings.
The official said the ministry was making all-out efforts to deploy gatekeepers at 1875 unmanned railway crossings across the country to prevent accidents on rail tracks.