Dhaka-N�ganj rail track risky for unsafe level crossings

NARAYANGANJ: Apart from the unauthorised level crossings across the 16-kilometre long Dhaka-Narayanganj rail track, poor  signalling system and negligence of gatemen in duty have also turned out to be a reason for increase in the number of accidents on the rail track in the recent time, reports UNB. 
Still the authorities are yet to come out with the measures to solve the problems. Of the 31 level crossings across the rail track from Narayanganj city to Kamlapur railway station, only 14 are authorised by the Bangladesh Railway (BR), sources said. The other 17 level crossings were set up during the construction of new roads in the area by the Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED).  All the level crossings remain unguarded as the department does not pay any heed for any consultation with the railways authorities in this regard.
Incidents of collision between speeding trains and other vehicles are also frequently taking place. 
Besides, poor signaling system and negligence of the gatemen deployed  in these level crossings have been causing accidents every now and then as pedestrians and all modes of vehicles use the level crossings defying life risk round-the-clock.  HM Ishaq, a banker living at Nandalalpur in Pagla area, told UNB that at least 5-6 pedestrians were killed while crossing the rail track  over the last two years.
 “We have to pass the level crossing at Nandalalpur risking our life everyday as there is no gatekeeper there,” he said. Many other residents of the area, including Siddique Hossain of Isdair and Shaheed Reza of Galachipa, came up with the same complaint. Three people were killed and at least 10 others were injured when a  Narayanganj-bound speeding train crashed into a human hauler on a level crossing at Rasulpur in Narayanganj Sadar upazila last year. 
All of the victims were human hauler passengers. The dilapidated conditions of the rail track have increased the risk furthermore.  Thousands of commuters residing in Narayanganj and Dhaka have been using the rail route in order to avoid traffic jam on roads as well as save money. 
However, shortage of bogies and miserable conditions of the existing ones create hazardous situations inside the locomotives during the journey, creating harassment for the commuters, complained the commuters. Many of the commuters ride on the roof of the train, failing to find seats inside the bogies. Contacted, station master of Narayanganj railway station Golam  Mostofa said public awareness is most important to shut down illegal level crossing. 
Passengers have no permission to ride on the rooftop or engine of the train, he added.

Dhaka-N�ganj rail track risky for unsafe level crossings

NARAYANGANJ: Apart from the unauthorised level crossings across the 16-kilometre long Dhaka-Narayanganj rail track, poor signalling system and negligence of gatemen in duty have also turned out to be a reason for increase in the number of accidents on the rail track in the recent time, reports UNB. Still the authorities are yet to come out with the measures to solve the problems. Of the 31 level crossings across the rail track from Narayanganj city to Kamlapur railway station, only 14 are authorised by the Bangladesh Railway (BR), sources said. The other 17 level crossings were set up during the construction of new roads in the area by the Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED). All the level crossings remain unguarded as the department does not pay any heed for any consultation with the railways authorities in this regard. Incidents of collision between speeding trains and other vehicles are also frequently taking place. Besides, poor signaling system and negligence of the gatemen deployed in these level crossings have been causing accidents every now and then as pedestrians and all modes of vehicles use the level crossings defying life risk round-the-clock. HM Ishaq, a banker living at Nandalalpur in Pagla area, told UNB that at least 5-6 pedestrians were killed while crossing the rail track over the last two years. We have to pass the level crossing at Nandalalpur risking our life everyday as there is no gatekeeper there, he said. Many other residents of the area, including Siddique Hossain of Isdair and Shaheed Reza of Galachipa, came up with the same complaint. Three people were killed and at least 10 others were injured when a Narayanganj-bound speeding train crashed into a human hauler on a level crossing at Rasulpur in Narayanganj Sadar upazila last year. All of the victims were human hauler passengers. The dilapidated conditions of the rail track have increased the risk furthermore. Thousands of commuters residing in Narayanganj and Dhaka have been using the rail route in order to avoid traffic jam on roads as well as save money. However, shortage of bogies and miserable conditions of the existing ones create hazardous situations inside the locomotives during the journey, creating harassment for the commuters, complained the commuters. Many of the commuters ride on the roof of the train, failing to find seats inside the bogies. Contacted, station master of Narayanganj railway station Golam Mostofa said public awareness is most important to shut down illegal level crossing. Passengers have no permission to ride on the rooftop or engine of the train, he added.