People cross rly tracks, put their lives at risk

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 23

In a violation of the section 147 of the Railways Act, passengers at the city railway station can be seen crossing the railway tracks instead of using the designated stairways and elevators.

The violators put their lives at risk by not using the designated path. Chances of any toward mishap also increase with their acts.

It is observed that people also cross the tracks frequently from outside the railway station. The Railway Act clearly stated that violators could be punished with fine as well as imprisonment.

As the Government Railway Police (GRP) has failed to check the violations for the past several years, it seems that people, who cross the railway tracks by not using the designated path, are lest bothered to follow the law.

Most of the violators are those who cross the tracks to save some time. But there are many who indulge in this misadventure to enter the railway station without being detected by ticket checkers.

The broken peripheral wall of the railway station provides an easy and safe exit to those passengers who don’t carry tickets. They jump off the train when it gets slow down near the railway station.

GRP officials claim that they are not soft on violators. “It is just a tough job as the peripheral wall is porous and there are a number of exit points, which are being used by people,” said a GRP official, adding that the manpower is not sufficient to implement the guideline.

Around 50,000 passengers and 180 trains visit the railway station every day.