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Unappreciated efforts
View(s):Story and pix by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk
Unprotected level crossings are one of the main factors leading to rail accidents in the country today. According to the Railway Department out of a total of 915 crossings island wide, 612 are unprotected crossings. Recognising the dangers posed by unprotected level crossings, Dr. Sarath Wimalasuriya (57), a retired doctor by profession, used his knowledge to come up with a low-cost solution to the problem
After six months experimenting, he developed an automatic level crossing gate and demonstrated how it worked at Pamburana, Matara recently. The gate operates on solar power and includes sensors, bells and bulbs as well.
The signal system, activates when an approaching train is one-and-a-half km away from the level crossing.
“The cost of putting up the traditional gate at level crossings cost the Railway Dept. around four million rupees. Whereas this gate can be put up for around one million rupees,” Dr. Wimalasuriya said. ”Despite having repeatedly informed the railway authorities of my low-cost invention, I have had no response from them”, Dr. Wimalasuriya said.
 The proof of the pudding: The automatic gate has closed as the train passes. |
 Once the train passes the gates automatically open. |
 Demonstrating how the device operates |
 One of the 612 unprotected railway crossings in the country. |
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