Nearly 20,000 people killed on rail tracks

Nearly 20,000 people were killed on rail tracks across the country in 2013, Lok Sabha was informed today.
While 19,997 persons died on tracks, 1,63,645 were prosecuted for trespassing last year, Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said in a written reply.
Railways realised Rs 3.64 crores as fines from people for trespassing on rail lines.
Chowdhury said railways have decided to eliminate all unmanned level crossings gradullay by closing some of the crossings and by constructing road over bridges (ROB) and road under bridges (RUB).
He said passengers awareness programmes are being organised about the fatalities of crossing rail tracks.

He also said regular announcements are made through public address systems at important railway stations urging the passengers to use foot-over bridges and to avoid crossing the railway tracks.