Major reforms in Indian Railways; implementing in Kerala as well; world-class model as target

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central government is aiming for a drastic change in the railway sector of the country. Along with the modernization of trains, the railways in the country are implementing security as a priority. Making railway gates automatic is a step as part of this. The project is now being implemented in Kerala as well.

Railway gates in the state are switching to automatic systems. The physical work of the gate keeper will be reduced when the gates that work on switches come into place. Safety in rail transport will also increase.

Railway gate automation has been implemented at Nalukulangara and TD railway gates on Thuravoor-Ernakulam reach under the Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division. The signalling system at Thuravoor railway station in Alappuzha has also become automatic. It was first implemented in Southern Railway at Madurai and the second place was Thuravoor.

Even if it is automatic, the gate can be reset in case of malfunction. About 10 crores were spent to make the two gates at Thuravoor automatic and to upgrade the signalling system.

As the signalling system in the stations becomes automatic, the signalling system operated by the stationmaster in the traditional way will also change. Some stations including Ernakulam have automatic signaling system now.