Ahmedabad
To address the issue of cattle runover incidents along the bustling Mumbai-Ahmedabad section, the Western Railways has recently completed the construction of cattle barrier fencing. Spanning approximately 622 km between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, this metal barrier fencing has proven to be highly effective in reducing cattle runover incidents to zero on this rail route.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw lauded this innovative fencing design, emphasizing that it was developed after thorough study and has been implemented along the entire route from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. The fencing’s success lies in its ability to prevent animals from accessing the tracks, significantly reducing the risk of accidents, particularly with fast-moving trains.
Vaishnaw highlighted that achieving a speed of 160 kmph on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route requires several crucial modifications, including adjustments to the Overhead Equipment (OHE), track structure, curvature reduction, and the implementation of an automatic train protection system known as Kavach. These enhancements are essential for ensuring safety at higher speeds, as visibility of signals becomes limited for train drivers.
The minister also noted that significant infrastructure improvements have been undertaken, such as curve removal, track structure upgrades, and Kavach installation, to facilitate the operation of trains at 160 kmph. The robustness of the metal beam fencing, constructed with two W-beams, makes it an effective solution for enhancing safety along railway tracks, similar to its use in highways and expressways to protect vehicles and pedestrians in accident-prone areas.
