Railways’ wall to avert deaths on tracks

CHENNAI: With recurring deaths and injuries on railway tracks on certain stretches in the city and on its outskirts proving to be a bogey for Southern Railway, officials of the zone are putting into action a plan to build a wall along a particularly vulnerable section in the southern suburbs.
Southern Railway officials are overseeing the construction of a 14km-long wall between Guindy and Tambaram that they hope will to a significant degree avert fatal deaths and accidents caused by people crossing the tracks from the eastern side on this stretch.
Traffic and Transportation Forum director V Rama Rao said Southern Railway proposes to extend the wall farther so it covers 30km from Tambaram to Chennai Beach. The wall, he said, will not only prevent people crossing the railway tracks but cattle too — a common enough sight for regular suburban rail commuters along this section.
Workers have started construction of the wall with a height of 7ft at St Thomas Mount railway station.
We raised the issue with railway officials and the railway minister,” Rao said. “Commuters and pedestrians die or sustain grievous injuries while crossing the railway tracks along this line. We are pleased to note that the authorities have taken our concerns into account and are finally building the wall.”
Tambaram resident and regular suburban train rider M Giridharan said many “anti-social elements and vagabonds carry out illegal activities” in areas along the railway tracks near suburban railway stations.
“The construction of the wall will also restrict the entry of these people,” Giridharan said.