Chennai railway level crossings are seeing faster and safer operations as Southern Railway replaces manual barriers with electrically operated lifting barriers across key routes in the Chennai Division. The new systems can open or close in about eight to 12 seconds, compared with up to three minutes for manual operation by gatekeepers.
Of the 143 manned level crossings in the division, 70 have been converted to electrically operated lifting barriers (EOLBs), according to officials. The upgrade is intended to reduce waiting time for road users and limit attempts by vehicles to cross while barriers are being operated manually.
The Chennai Beach-Chengalpet section has achieved complete coverage, with all 13 manned level crossings fitted with EOLBs. These include crossings at Chromepet, Pallavaram, Perungalathur and Singaperumal Koil. Each electrically operated unit costs approximately ₹30 lakh.
On the Chengalpet-Arakkonam section, 19 of 31 crossings have been converted. The Chennai Central-Gudur route has received the upgrade at 11 of its 29 crossings. Eight of 10 crossings between Chennai Central and Arakkonam have been covered, while seven of nine crossings between Arakkonam and Katpadi have also been converted.
Other sections have received upgrades at a smaller number of crossings. Three of eight crossings on the Katpadi-Villupuram section and three of 29 on the Chengalpet-Villupuram section have been fitted with electric barriers. Six of 14 crossings between Arakkonam and Renigunta have also been converted.
Officials said the faster operation reduces the period for which road traffic is held at a crossing. It also lowers the scope for road vehicles to damage barriers or pass through before they are fully closed. Manual barriers are operated by gatekeepers using hand-cranked winches, making the process slower than the electrically operated system.
Southern Railway has separately installed Emergency Sliding Booms at 133 of the 143 manned crossings. These booms can be deployed manually if the main barrier is damaged. Their use allows the crossing’s interlocking system to remain functional while repairs are undertaken, providing an additional safety measure at locations where road and rail movements must continue to be controlled.
The remaining crossings will be taken up in phases, with the order of conversion determined by road and rail traffic volumes. The phased approach means that the pace of upgrades will vary across the division, while crossings on the busiest routes receive priority.
