Protecting unauthorised crossings a National problem
It had become a national problem to protect each and every unauthorised level crossing, General Manager Railways Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan said at a press conference at his office on Monday.
There were around 700 railway level crossings and the Railway Department could not protect every single crossing as it cost a lot of money. Along the Kelani Valley and the Puttalam line there were many new unauthorised crossings that had been built, some overnight.
The Road development Authority and local bodies too have a responsibility to protect passengers and commuters and they could put up notice boards to say the level crossing ‘caution unprotected road.’
It was unfair to make allegations against the railway department when the railway track was for the railway commuter and it was a protective mode of transport for its commuters, but it was only unsafe for the pedestrians or motorists who uses the railway track carelessly, Dr Gunaruwan noted.
by Lakshmi de Silva
Source: The island
