MUMBAI: The Central Railway on Thursday announced that it has been monitoring the ghat section and taking adequate measures for safe train operations during monsoon. In fact, this year, the CR has made better provisions than the previous year, said CR chief spokesperson Swapnil Nila.
The measures include boulder netting to prevent boulder fall – which was netting of 60,000 sq.mts area along the ghats this year in comparison to 500 sq.mts in 2023.“Another important step was the Canadian fencing ( prevents boulders from rolling on to tracks) to arrest boulders/muck slides while allowing the water flow – which was 450 meters of fencing this year as against 40 mts in 2023,” Nila said.
The railway officials also made arrangements for new catch water drains to guide the rain water flow and ensure there is no flooding of tracks. This was 1200 meters of drains set up this year against 160 meters in 2023. The railways also extended the tunnel portal so that this prevents boulder fall/muck near tunnel face. “The extension of the tunnel portal was done upto 170 meters this year as against 45 meters in 2023,” an official said. ” At tunnel face location, where there is danger of boulder falling due to fragmented rocks near the face, a false portal is constructed and integrated with the existing natural portal of the tunnel,” he added.
Another important aspect was the dynamic rockfall barrier to catch the detached rock mass from hills. This year, a 650 meters of barrier was created as opposed to 300 meters in 2023. This modern technology has the capacity to hold stones weighing between 500 kg to 5,000 kg. The Central Railway officials believe that this technology will help in preventing train accidents due to heavy rains.
“Amid heavy rainfall, problems such as boulders falling, landslides etc. occur during monsoon. The work done this time on the ghats should ensure a smooth and disruption free services of its suburban and Mail/Express trains on ghat sections,” an official said.
Central Railway’s control office, working round the clock, will keep close liaison with Meteorological Department, Disaster Management cell, various State authorities and staff deputed at important locations for continuous monitoring and constant updates, Nila added.
