Level crossing gates for Sri Lanka

[John Ashworth]

Sri Lanka Railways allocates Rs. 1 billion to install gates at unprotected rail crossings

Tue, Feb 7, 2012, 08:22 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Feb 07, Colombo: Sri Lanka Railways is taking measures to install gates at all the unprotected rail crossings in the country and has allocated one billion rupees for the project.

General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways B.A.P. Ariyaratne has said that preliminary measures have been taken to install 200 gates across the island.

The government says 612 rail crossings out of a total of about 915 in the country have no protection systems.

The Cabinet of ministers last year approved the allocation of one billion rupees to provide protection systems to 200 unprotected railway level crossings.

The priority will be given to install gates along the Southern coastal line due to the high speed of trains on the track following its recent modernization.

The official has pointed out that the lack of protective gates at crossings is a hindrance to the proper operation of the trains as well as a safety hazard to the public.