Kolkata: To end dangerous track crossings, Eastern Railway’s Sealdah division has sanctioned seven new low-height subways beneath live railway tracks. This will also overcome land acquisition hurdles that often delay construction of road overbridges and underbridges. The subways will be usable by pedestrians and local vehicles, including four-wheelers, but not trucks.“The idea is to end dangerous track crossings and strengthen community connectivity,” said Sealdah DRM Rajeev Saxena. “Crossing active railway lines has long been an unavoidable part of daily life. Children on their way to school, patients seeking medical care, workers travelling to markets, and villagers accessing essential services often have no practical alternative but to use unauthorised crossing points, exposing themselves to significant risk every day,” he added.The division has recommended the seven subways at critical trespassing locations. The proposed reinforced concrete box subways will provide complete grade separation between rail and road movement, allowing people and local vehicles to pass safely under the tracks.The seven locations are: Aranghata–Bahirgachhi (Ranaghat–Gede section), Bagula–Banpur (Ranaghat–Gede), Karanjali–NCPM (Lakshmikantapur–Namkhana), Sonarpur–Baruipur section, Kakdwip–Ukilerhat (Lakshmikantapur–Namkhana), Bangaon–Petrapole section, and Krishnanagar–Santipur section.Projects were identified through field surveys, footplate inspections, assessment of Train Vehicle Unit (TVU) movement, local consultations and detailed safety evaluations. At all sites, substantial movement — motorcycles, e-rickshaws (totos), four-wheelers and pedestrians — occurs via unauthorised crossings due to lack of convenient alternatives.
