09 December,2015 09:23 PM IST | | Shashank Rao
The Railway police force (RPF) will be keeping an eye on people who cross railway tracks as a part of 'Passenger Awareness Campaign'
Crossing the railway tracks is going to prove costlier as Central Railway (CR) has started to keep a track on people at railway stations from December 9
The Railway Police Force (RPF) will be keeping an eye on people who cross railway tracks as a part of 'Passenger Awareness Campaign'.
The Central Railway has adopted the policy of telling people the ills of crossing tracks and also prosecuting them under the relevant penal provisions of the Railways Act. "We have started catching people who trespass and cross tracks under section 147 of Railway Act. On the first day more than 341 people were caught across various railway stations of suburban section," said Narendra Patil, chief PRO, Central Railway.
This drive is underway at several stations including Dombivli, Kalyan, Kurla, Dadar and CST stations. Sources said that the maximum number of people caught were at CST - which is the headquarters of CR - followed by Dadar.
Prosecution under Section 147 of the Railway Act entails imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 months, or with fine of Rs 1000 or both.
The quantum of deaths is visible as in the last 22 months with at least 3,440 people dying while crossing the tracks. In the year 2014, there have been 1,912 deaths on rail tracks out of which 1,216 people died on Central railway while the rest on Western Railway.
Similarly till October 2015; 1,528 people died out of which victims on CR is more with 1,013 people while 515 died on the Western Railway.
The drive will go on for another 15 days or so wherein the RPF will also pay attention to people travelling on train rooftops, footboard, people who are drunk, people endanger safety of other passengers and
The following is the number of people prosecuted under section 147 of the Railways Act conducted on 09.12.2015:
Stations
No. of people prosecuted
CST Mumbai 35
Dadar 27
Kurla 18
Thane 26
Igatpuri 10
Panvel 26
Kalyan 19
Mulund 13
Turbhe 16
Kasara 27
Diva 07
Badlapur 12
Karjat 38
Dombivli 27
Mankhurd 22
Vadala Road 13
Lonavala 05
Total 341
