Khurda Division wants review of train speed limit
BHUBANESWAR: Caught between elephant safety and train punctuality, the Khurda Road Division of East Coast Railway has urged Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden to review speed restriction imposed on trains for movement of elephants in Dhenkanal forest division.
Divisional Railway Manager Braj Mohan Agarwal in a letter to the PCCF (Wildlife) stated that speed restrictions in Dhenkanal-Sadashibpur-Hindol Road stretch have been imposed for 10 to 12 hours everyday though a decision was taken to issue advisory for shorter duration of two hours.
“During a coordination meeting on May 21, it was decided that speed restrictions will be imposed over a stretch of approximately two km and time extended keeping in view of elephants’ movement. However, Forest officials have imposed restrictions on a stretch of five to 13 km,” the letter stated.
Imposing speed restrictions over a longer stretch and duration is adversely affecting mobility of both Passenger, Express and Goods trains, the DRM said.
Passengers are suffering due to this reason while supply of raw materials to industries is also getting delayed, thereby affecting the economy, he said and requested the forest authorities to intervene so that minimum essential restrictions on movement of trains can be imposed.
Agarwal informed that as per the decision taken at the meeting, one honey bee sound device has been installed between Sadashibpur and Dhenkanal stations. Forest officials have also been requested to examine the efficacy for installation of more such devices at a few other vulnerable locations.
He, however, pointed out that no information regarding erection of solar fencing on the sides of railway tracks has been received even though Forest officers of Dhenkanal, Athagarh and Cuttack were directed to erect fences on a pilot basis for guiding elephants on a particular route to avoid long stretch of caution order.
Similarly, no advisory has been received on construction of underpass/overpass at vulnerable places, the letter added.
Sadashibpur and Dhenkanal stretch most vulnerable
The restrictions on train speed were imposed in the wake of frequent mishaps on railway tracks in the State. As many as 22 elephants have been killed on tracks in the last six years, the latest being the one in Jharsuguda where four jumbos were run over by a speeding train on April 16. The next day, a calf died after being hit by a train in Dhenkanal district. Elephants passing through the stretch between Sadashibpur and Dhenkanal are prone to accidents as the number of trains, especially Goods trains, has gone up in the mining and industrial belt.