NEW DELHI: The railways have eliminated a large number of unmanned level crossings over broad gauge lines as it stepped up its drive to enhance safety across the network.

Latest data showed that 3,402 unmanned level crossings had been eliminated in the last seven months. There were 3,479 unmanned crossing and the state-run transport behemoth plans to get rid of the remaining 77 by the end of December.

By the elimination of unamanned crossings on war footing, accidents have reduced from 65 in 2009-10 to 3 in 2018-19.

"Indian Railway has taken a mission area to eliminate all unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on broad gauge and special efforts have been made so that elimination can be completed at the earliest," a statement from the state transporter said. It said most of the unmanned level crossings have been eliminated either by building a subway, road over bridges or by posting personnel to man the gate.

It also said all unmanned level crossings on routes where speed is over 130 km per hour and on sub-urban routes have been eliminated. The elimination of ULMCs have been undertaken in 12 zonal railways and all of them are now free from unmanned level crossings.

The railways have been working on a plan to advance the deadline of March 2020 to eliminate unmanned railways crossings from its network.

