New gate, watchman at Aroor

 
AROOR: Twenty-four hours after the accident, involving the Hapa-Tirunelveli superfast express, that killed five persons at an unmanned level crossing here, the train passed a newly installed gate on the very spot on Monday. A watchman too has been appointed to man the gate. Karan Singh, a native of Rajasthan was on duty from 8 pm on Sunday to 8 am on Monday, while Ganesh Chaudhary from West Bengal manned the gate from 8 am. Electricity and telecommunication facilities were already in place at a shed that had been set up near the gate.

Anil Kumar, Chief Engineer, Southern Railway from Chennai, inspected the track and gate for technical deficiencies. “Railways are planning to eliminate the 24 unmanned level crossings between Aroor and Kayamkulam in Alappuzha. Priority will be given to constructing underpass or overpass and closing level crossings [if more than one exists in close proximity], and the remaining will be manned. The Alappuzha railway station master has 16 manned level crossings under his jurisdiction. Communication to all these 16 level crossings is practically difficult. Railways are holding talks with the local bodies on providing alternatives to level crossings,” he said. The local people had organised protests on Sunday demanding the manning of the crossing.