A mishap at a railway level crossing involving an oil wagon and a bus has left two people dead in Chittagong last year. -File Photo There are a total of 1,248 level crossings in the areas of Bangladesh Railway Eastern Zone. Of these, only a total 434 level crossings are legal and 814 are illegal. The said illegal level crossings are the prime cause of accidents, very often hampering of rail communication, sources said.
Of the 434 legal level crossings, 273 are in Dhaka Division while 161 are in Chittagong Division. Of the 814 illegal level crossings, a total of 431 are in Dhaka Division while 383 are in Chittagong Division. According to the sources, the said 814 level crossings are not being controlled by the Bangladesh Railway.
These are controlled by Local Government and Rural Development's local offices, City Corporations, Municipalities and Union Councils. Besides, local club and some non-government organizations also set up some level crossings on the rail lines which is in no way legal illegal. Preferring anony-mity, the officials of Bangladesh Railway said, "We are undone in this regard.
The 814 level crossings are not controlled by Bangladesh Railway. There is no staff of Bangladesh Railway at the said illegal level crossings."
The officials of Bangladesh Railway Eastern Zone also said, "Bangladesh Railway Eastern Zone filed cases against the organizations for setting up illegal level crossings on the railways. But, there was no result."
Sources said, there are 253 level crossings under Local Government and Rural Development's local offices, 6 under Roads and Highway Department, 65 under Pourshabhas, 19 under city corporations, 324 under Union Coincils, 13 under District councils, 3 crossings under non government organizations, 3 under Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and 92 level crossings under other organizations.
Despite only Bangladesh Railway Eastern Zone can set up the level crossings on the rail lines legally, there are many government and non government organizations which set up the level crossings illegally.
As there are no skilled staff of the said organizations for controlling the level crossings, the maintenance of the level crossings are turning difficult day by day. Sources said, Bangladesh Railway Eastern Zone has been suffering from lack of manpower for last several years. So, there is no scope for deploying additional signal man in the illegal level crossings.
As a result, accidents are taking places at the said illegal level crossings. Sources also said, there are 242 posts of the Gate Keeper at Bangladesh Railway Eastern Zone against 434 legal level crossings.
But, only 36 are working against the 242 approved posts of Gate Keeper while rest 206 posts of Gate Keeper are still vacant. General Manager of Bangladesh Railway Eastern Zone Mohammed Abdul Hai said, the process to appoint 1,038 gate keepers are under process now. After taking control of the illegal level crossings and appointment of the new gate keepers, accident will be decreased."
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