Fencing begins on 530 km track in Madhya Pradesh to prevent animal accidents

An ambitious project has been undertaken by the Bhopal Division of the West Central Railway to prevent animals from entering railway tracks and to improve railway safety in Madhya Pradesh. Under this initiative, fencing is being installed on both sides of the 530 km long railway section between Khandwa and Bina.

According to a report by Gulf News, the primary objective of this project is to reduce animal accidents involving trains, which will decrease the loss of livestock for rural families. Additionally, this step has been taken to mitigate the risk of accidents and disruptions to train services caused by animals when trains operate at speeds of 130 km per hour or more.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Saurabh Kataria, in a statement to IANS, stated that out of the proposed total of 530 km of fencing, 74 km of work has been completed, incurring an expenditure of approximately ₹2.88 crore. This completed work includes 49 km in the Khandwa-Itarsi section, 4 km in the Itarsi-Bhopal section, and 21 km in the Bhopal-Bina section. The railway has set a target to complete the entire project by March 2027.

Apart from fencing, four animal overpasses have been constructed in the Budhni-Barkhera Ghat section to allow animals to cross the tracks safely. Among these, three structures have been built on the up line and one on the middle line. These overpasses are designed such that animals can cross the railway corridor without descending onto the tracks, thereby reducing the possibility of collisions with trains.

According to the railway, when animals enter the railway line, it leads to animal deaths, financial loss to livestock owners, and damage to railway property. Such incidents necessitate the slowing down of trains or disrupt their movement, which directly affects passenger services.

Saurabh Kataria further stated, "Bhopal Division gives the highest priority to passenger safety and is committed to making railway operations safer through modern technology, improved infrastructure, and effective safety measures." He added that fencing and animal overpasses will help in preventing animals from entering the tracks and reducing accidents.

The entire project is being implemented under the guidance of Divisional Railway Manager Pankaj Tyagi. The railway hopes that these measures will strengthen the safety framework, protect animals, and enable more reliable train operations on the route.