Railways, forest officials to inspect track in Rajaji Park

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 23

Northern Railway officials led by Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Pramod Kumar met Forest Minister Dinesh Aggarwal here yesterday on the issue of deaths of elephants hit by trains running on the Dehradun-Haridwar line passing from the Rajaji National Park.

It was decided at the meeting that officials of the Railways and the Forest Department would jointly inspect the stretch of the Haridwar to Dehradun track passing through the Rajaji national park to identify accident-prone spots and suggest measures to keep wild animals away from it.

The Forest Minister said without ground inspection and coordination of the Railways officials and Forest Department, such accidents could not be stopped. He directed Sanatna, Director of the Rajaji National Park, to take steps to prevent such accidents. He sought a chart of the speed of trains moving on the route. The speed of the trains on the Dehradun-Haridwar route had remained a contentious issue between the Railways and forest officials.

The forest officials alleged that earlier it was decided that the trains on the section would run slow in the Rajaji park area but the Railways had shown scant regard to the concern. However, Railways officials vehemently denied the allegation and contended that trains were running at a specified speed in the section.

A police case has been registered against the train driver in the incident in which a wild elephant was killed after it was hit by a train near Raiwala a few days ago. Railways officials were agitated on the registration of case against the driver.

The minister also requested Railways officials to provide clearance for the construction of a sewer line and an over-bridge in Dehradun city.