What are the key challenges in ensuring safety at railway level crossings in India?

Ensuring safety at railway level crossings in India is a major concern due to frequent accidents, as highlighted by recent incidents like the Cuddalore accident. Level crossings are points where roadways and railways intersect, and their safety depends on both infrastructure and human factors. The main challenges faced in ensuring safety at these crossings are as follows:

• High Number of Unmanned Crossings: Many level crossings, especially in rural areas, are unmanned, making them prone to accidents due to lack of supervision.
• Poor Visibility and Signage: Inadequate warning signs, poor lighting, and obstructed views make it difficult for road users to notice approaching trains, especially at night or during bad weather.
• Lack of Awareness: Many road users are unaware of the dangers at level crossings and do not follow basic safety precautions, such as stopping and looking before crossing.
• Overcrowding and Encroachment: Encroachments near level crossings and high traffic volumes increase congestion and the risk of accidents.
• Delay in Modernization: Slow progress in installing automatic gates, alarms, and surveillance systems at crossings hampers safety improvements.
• Coordination Issues: Coordination between railway authorities and local administration is often weak, leading to delayed response in addressing safety concerns or implementing safety measures.
• Human Error: Both railway staff and road users sometimes make mistakes, such as gatekeepers failing to close gates on time or drivers ignoring signals.
• Inadequate Enforcement: Weak enforcement of traffic rules and penalties for violations at level crossings contribute to unsafe behavior.