Salem Division appoints Gate Mitra/LC Gate Counselors in unmanned Level Crossings

Unmanned Level Crossings continue to be a matter of concern for the Railways as most accidents take place in such level crossings resulting in loss of lives and property. Despite continuous safety propaganda/awareness campaigns, unmanned level crossings do pose a threat. When Salem Division was started in 2007, there were 218 manned level crossings and 135 unmanned level crossings. Unmanned level crossings are reduced by way of direct closure, diversion of traffic to the other manned level crossings, road bridges by laying roads, by construction of limited use subways (LUS), Road Over/Road Under Bridges (ROB/RUB) or by manning them, depending on the vehicles using the LC. For example, if the vehicles are less than 500, the LC will be permanently closed, LUS will be constructed if it is between 2000-6000 and RUB/ROB will be constructed if the traffic is above 1 lakh. Due to positive steps in this direction, Salem Division has brought down the number of unmanned level crossings to 79 as on 31^st March, 2015, and is taking more steps in this regard.

However, since all the above steps likely to take more time, with a view to achieve zero life loss in unmanned level crossings, Indian Railways have decided to place Gate Mitras viz. LC Gate Counselors therein. These Gate Mitras would counsel the road users, issue pamphlets and guide them to safe-crossing of unmanned LCs.  Though railway personnel have been posted in a few sensitive LCs, due to paucity of man power, as per Railway Board’s directions, tenders were called for appointment of agencies to provide Gate Mitras in LCs and such an agency has been appointed on trial measure, for providing 60 Gate Mitras in various LCs in Salem Division, for 110 days (at a cost of Rs.2,57,400/-) 

Persons nominated for the Gate Mitra duties have been given training by the Safety Organisation of the Salem Division, for one day and have been provided with ID Slips. They will be wearing reflective safety jackets, and with a whistle, they will be present in the unmanned LCs from 6.00 hrs. to 18.00 hrs. every day to counsel/guide the road users.