Following the tragic death of three schoolchildren at an unmanned railway-level crossing in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, the Indian Railways has announced a set of urgent safety measures to prevent similar accidents nationwide. The incident, which involved a train crashing into a school van, also left six others injured and raised serious questions about ground-level operational practices and accountability.
In a high-level review meeting chaired by senior transport authorities, a multi-pronged safety action plan has been initiated for immediate execution. Among the key interventions are the installation of CCTV cameras at all level crossings, equipped with uninterrupted power supply through solar and battery backups to ensure real-time monitoring. The ministry has also committed to lowering the threshold for automatic gate interlocking systems from 20,000 to 10,000 Train Vehicle Units (TVUs), making more crossings eligible for automated safety upgrades. Daily random audits of voice recordings from non-interlocked gates have also been mandated, with an aim to reinforce compliance and procedural transparency. In areas where gatekeepers face regular non-cooperation from the public, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Home Guard personnel will be deployed to ensure safety norms are enforced without compromise.
Infrastructure development efforts are also being scaled up, with renewed urgency towards constructing Road Over Bridges (ROBs), Underpasses, and Limited Height Subways to phase out vulnerable level crossings altogether. Officials noted that a 15-day national safety inspection campaign is now underway, focusing specifically on block section crossings. Preliminary investigations into the Cuddalore accident revealed that while the gatekeeper began lowering the barrier, the van driver insisted on crossing, violating safety protocol. A negligence case has been filed, although a detailed inquiry is ongoing to determine institutional lapses.
This intervention marks a critical step towards building a safer and more accountable railway network—especially at the intersection of urban-rural mobility where such incidents often occur. For India’s vision of sustainable and inclusive transport, ensuring safe school and commuter transit must remain non-negotiable.
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