Citizen Connect: Labourers risk lives as bend in track blocks loco drivers’ line of vision

The construction labourers working at Pallavaram railway station are at the risk of being mowed down by a suburban train entering the station. The spot where the work is on is too close to the track, and the risk is compounded by the fact that there is a bend on the track that makes them invisible to the loco drivers.

Recently, the compound wall adjacent to the railway tracks at Pallavaram station was partially demolished to increase its height. The wall was demolished not from the railway trackside. Instead, it was razed from the road on the other side of the compound. However, the work to increase the height of the compound wall is being done from the railway trackside.

The suburban trains from Tambaram to Beach come on platform number one where the wall is situated, which is where the danger lies. According to some of the labourers who are working there, they were at risk of being hit by a train while working on the wall.

Though railway officials at Pallavaram claim that all precautionary measures were taken to ensure the safety of the workers, the latter complain that they are not able to see the incoming train because of the way the track bends near the spot.

“We are able to see the trains that enter the station only from a distance of about 100 metres,” a labourer working at the Pallavaram station said. According to him, some of the loco drivers sound the horn before entering the platform, which enables them to move away even before spotting the train.

Another worker said they have to cross the railway tracks often to get construction materials from the platform, which increases the risk.

When asked, a senior official at the station said the workers could not be engaged during night time – when there are lesser or no suburban trains running – adding that they had no choice but to take up the work during the day time.

“It has been clearly instructed that drivers should ensure to sound the horn to alert the workers when the train enters the platform,” he added. He also pointed out that labourers were working near the tracks even at Guindy and Egmore railway stations to construct second platform.

Another railway official at Egmore station added that there is no specific rule in connection with the engagement of labourers.