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Travelling dangerously
The Sri Lanka Railway has launched a fresh campaign to crack down on commuters travelling on footboards, rooftops and between compartments, but passengers claim they are forced to travel like that due to lack of space.
Railways Security Superintendent J.M.N. Senaka Jayasena told the Sunday Times that the objective was to create awareness about the dangers of such travel and to ensure commuter-safety.
“There have been instances when people fell off trains and the Railway authorities were blamed. Besides, when such accidents take place, trains are delayed,” he said.
“We don’t wish to trouble commuters, only to ensure their safety. Under the Railway ordinance we can fine only up to Rs 20. Therefore, we have now decided to arrest such commuters and produce them before a magistrate, where they could be fined between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000,” he said.
A team lead by the Railway Security Officer In Charge of Maradana, Nihal Bandula Wijerathne on Friday warned several persons detained for travelling in a dangerous manner. The raids are expected to be stepped up in the coming weeks.
He said they had started taking action against commuters, travelling on footboards, the springs in wheel sets, in-between compartments and on rooftops. Mr Wijerathne said that commuters habitually travel dangerously.
He added that footboard travellers obstruct passengers from getting in and out.
He said there had been an increase in accidents from last month, and they have already caught seven of those foolhardy travelers and produced
Pix by Nissanka Meegoda
them before Maligakanda Magistrate Rashantha Godawela who ordered the offenders pay Rs 500 each to the State. They were released after being warned of the dangers of travelling at such positions.
He said the other problem was that those travelling in-between compartments tend to rest their feet on the computer wire and damage it, causing computerised trains to stop midway.
He said that a computer wire, which is imported, cost more than Rs 1 million, and after installation it would be worth more.
He said three footboard travelers were injured on Sunday at Ragama when they hit a three-wheeler, while last Saturday a footboard commuter died after striking the corner of Panadura Bridge.
He said that up to September 17, 21 people were injured and 7 were killed by falling off trains.
Officers also warned that this would be the last time they would advise, after which they would send dangerous travellers to court.
A commuter detained by the security officers, Hiran J Manthreerathna said that he was travelling on the first step as his destination was approaching and the heat inside the compartment was oppressive.
Some of the detained travellers being given a warning
Mr. Manthreerathna claimed that raids are conducted to extort money from commuters, without a proper service, even though there are new trains, they are insufficient to meet the demand.
He claimed that railway officials had ordered its security officers to collect money for the State by humiliating the innocent.
Another commuter warned by a railway security officer, said that it is good that railway officials are doing their duty properly.
A commuter sitting on the footboard, Kumara Ranjan Samarweera, when asked to come to the platform, said he knew the law, adding that he had been doing this for some time.
A businessman at the station said that the law must be applied firmly.
He said the Rs 20-fine makes a mockery of the law and would need amending.
The director of Ragama Hospital, Dr U.M.M. Samaranayake said there was an increase in the number of deaths, amputations and serious injuries from railway accidents.
“Remains of railway accident victims are difficult to identify because the hot metal wheels grind the victim. Those who escape death face amputations,” he said.