Most of Gaibandha level crossings without gates, gatemen

Vehicles and passers-by remain highly vulnerable to accident before an approaching train as a temporarily appointed gateman puts up a bamboo barrier only on one side of the busy No 2 level crossing in Gaibandha town. PHOTO: STAR

Surprisingly though, 34 level crossings out of a total 54 ones in the district Gaibandha district are without any gatemen or arrangement for stopping movement of vehicles and pedestrians during passage of trains.
In Gaibandha district, there are 11 railway stations, namely, Salmara, Mohimaganj, Bonarpara, Badiakhali, Trimohoni, Gaibandha, Kuptola, Kamarpara, Naldanga, Bamondanga and Hasanganj, said sources at Gaibandha rail station.
Besides, three other stations between Trimohoni to Balashi Ghat remain operational for transport of mainly goods to Balashi Ghat river port for four months during the rainy season.
Of the 54 level crossings on the track between Salmara to Hasanganj stations under Santahar-Lalmonirhat Section, only 20 crossings have safety measures as railway authorities arranged gatemen and cross bars there.
The 34 others remain virtually open all the time, including during passage of trains.
Five level crossings in Gaibandha municipality area are without any gateman from the railway department. Most risky one is No 2 rail crossing at the heart of Gaibandha town as a large number of buses, trucks, microbuses, three-wheelers and pedestrians including school and college going students daily pass through the crossing.
Considering gravity of the problem, Gaibandha municipal authority has deployed a temporary gateman at the busy point.
"There is not proper equipment to create barricade on both sides of the rail track. As the train appears I place an ordinary bamboo to stop movement of vehicles and pedestrians on one side while the other side remains open," said Akalu Das, the gateman.
Four other level crossings at Adarshapara, Adarsha College, old SP office and Khamar points remain vulnerable to accidents any time, said Shahidul Huq, a student of Gaibandha Government College.
Bamon Hazra crossing near Mohimaganj rail station, three crossings to the north of Badiakhali station, and those at Kuptola station, Naldanga point and Trimohoni are some other highly risky level crossings. Those points are remained crowded with pedestrians, motorcycles and three-wheelers.
Last year two passengers were killed as a running train knocked a three-wheeler at Bonarapara crossing and another tempo driver was killed at Kuptola crossing. Both the vehicles were smashed and skid off the roads, said sources of Gaibandha GRP.
"Authorities of Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway could not deploy adequate gatemen in level crossings due to acute manpower crisis. The recruitment process has remained stopped for a pretty long time although the higher authorities are frequently informed of the matter," said Abdul Wahed Mandol, stationmaster of Gaibandha rail station.
With vehicular movement on the rise, it has become all the more necessary to arrange gatemen and traffic control at the level crossings, said Dipok Kumar Singha, a sub-assistant engineer of Bangladesh Railway at Bamondanga rail station.