Janaka Suranga
Given the number of accidents occurring at railway crossings, it is high time the government paid greater attention to these incidents and took full responsibility for addressing them.
Numerous reports have highlighted the dangers faced by motorcyclists, motorists, van and bus passengers, as well as pedestrians at unprotected railway crossings. Although this has long been recognised as a serious issue affecting the public, a permanent solution has yet to be implemented.
In an effort to gain a clearer understanding of the situation, a request was submitted to the Additional General Manager of the Department of Railways under the Right to Information Act No. 12 of 2016. The following information was disclosed:
1,362 Railway Crossings Nationwide
According to the data received, Sri Lanka has a total of 1,362 railway crossings. Of these, only 738 are protected by an appropriate system, while 439 remain unprotected. Additionally, 185 railway crossings are not under the control of the government.
Among the protected crossings, 306 are equipped with electronic signalling systems, which include automatic gate mechanisms or manned gatekeepers. However, only 161 crossings are minimally protected with just an electric bell and a gate. A further 432 crossings are equipped with only an electric bell and lack other protective infrastructure.
Many so-called “unprotected” crossings have nothing more than signage warning of danger. In some cases, these signs are damaged, faded, or missing altogether. Only a limited number of crossings have clearly visible warning signs. Alarmingly, the government does not maintain up-to-date information on these crossings.
As such, it is no secret that Sri Lankan citizens face serious risks when using roads that intersect with railway lines. The lack of adequate safety measures at these crossings has reached the point of infringing upon the fundamental rights of the public.
Government’s Future Plans
When inquired about future measures, the Department of Railways stated that under the Maho/Anuradhapura project, the government intends to upgrade 46 currently unprotected crossings into fully protected ones. Additionally, plans are in place to install manually operated gates at a total of 435 unprotected or insufficiently protected crossings. This initiative will be supported by a multi-duty workforce recruited through local government institutions.
Public Responsibility
In light of all this information, it is essential to reiterate that those approaching railway crossings must exercise extreme caution. Pedestrians and drivers alike should make it a practice to look both ways—not just once, but twice—before crossing railway lines.
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