Several non-interlocked level crossing gates along different railway sections in Tiruchi and Madurai Divisions have been brought under the Closed Circuit Television Unit cameras monitoring system to enhance safety of train operations. The system has been in place to monitor the condition of each gate in “real time” from the station master room to find out if it was closed or open before any movement of train.
This “safety measure” is being implemented even as non-interlocked gates are gradually being converted to fully interlocked systems. In Tiruchi Railway Division, cameras have been installed at 13 non-interlocked gates along the busy Tiruchi – Villupuram and Cuddalore – Vriddhachalam BG sections. Plans are afoot to cover more such gates in the division by installing cameras in future, said a senior railway official.
The over 175 -km electrified Tiruchi – Villupuram section is one of the main stretches in the Southern Railway zone witnessing heavy movement of passenger and express trains in the north – south direction every day besides movement of freight trains.
The Tiruchi – Pudukottai -Karaikudi section is another stretch where cameras are being installed at the manned non-interlocked gates. It is a nearly 90 -kilometre electrified section covering portions of Tiruchi, Pudukottai and Sivaganga districts and falls under the limits of the Madurai Railway Division. Some express trains going to the temple town Rameswaram pass through this section via Tiruchi Junction and Karaikudi.
Out of the six non-interlocked gates along the Tiruchi – Karaikudi section, cameras have been installed at four gates. The work of installing cameras at the two remaining gates are in progress, said another railway official. Internet protocol cameras are being installed at the non-interlocked gates and connected to the station master’s room of the controlling stations. Monitors have been fitted inside the station master room.
One of the main reasons for providing cameras at the non-interlocked gates is that the station master concerned can view the gate in “real time” through the camera feeds from the office before any train movements, said a senior official. Further, the camera recordings will be useful for investigation of any incident at the non-interlocked gates including gatemen being obstructed by outsiders during their duty, the official further said.
The cameras based system is to have a monitoring mechanism in place at the gates to prevent any untoward incidents or find out violations, if any committed, by the gatemen. This is an additional measure to ensure safety in operation of trains while passing through such gates, officials further said.
Non-interlocked gates are those which are not mechanically or electrically linked to the signals. The gateman closes the gate upon receiving a message from the station master and exchanging a secret private number. In respect of the interlocked level crossings, the gate’s locking mechanism is directly connected to the train signalling system. This will ensure that the signals turn green only after the gate is securely closed to road traffic, said an official
FATAL ACCIDENT AT NON-INTERLOCKED GATE
In July last year, at a manned non-interlocked gate in Cuddalore district falling under the Tiruchi Division the Villupuram – Mayiladuthurai passenger train rammed a school van killing three students. Investigations revealed that the gatekeeper had left the gate open although he had lied that it was closed which led to the tragedy. The gatekeeper was subsequently arrested and a case booked against him. The fatal accident called for urgent measures to prioritise conversion of non-interlocked crossing to interlocked ones.
AMBUSH CHECKS
The Tiruchi Railway Division officials had conducted “ambush checks” at non-interlocked crossings at select sections synchronised with actual train movements a couple of times in December to strengthen safety compliance and reinforce procedural discipline and operational safety.
Published – February 01, 2026 07:39 pm IST
