HOWRAH DIVISION LEADS EXTENSIVE AWARENESS DRIVE ON INTERNATIONAL LEVEL CROSSING AWARENESS DAY WITH MASSIVE PUBLIC OUTREACH

HOWRAH DIVISION LEADS EXTENSIVE AWARENESS DRIVE ON INTERNATIONAL LEVEL CROSSING AWARENESS DAY WITH MASSIVE PUBLIC OUTREACH

Howrah Division of Eastern Railway conducted a large-scale awareness campaign on the occasion of International Level Crossing Awareness Day on 5th June with major events held at Level Crossing Gates No. 23 A/Spl. and 24 B/Spl. near Tarakeswar Railway Station. The campaign witnessed enthusiastic participation and was aimed at sensitizing road users and the general public on the importance of adhering to safety norms at level crossings to prevent accidents.

The highlight of the event was an awareness rally between the two gates, which saw active involvement from railway officials, civil defence volunteers, scouts, guides, and local residents. Street plays (Nukkad Nataks) were performed at both gates, effectively delivering powerful messages on level crossing safety through engaging performances.

Similar awareness programmes were simultaneously conducted across various stations under Howrah Division. In total, approximately 2,78,420 local residents, road users, and passengers were counselled. Leaflets were distributed, and loudspeaker announcements (miking) were carried out at all level crossing gates to maximize the campaign outreach.

The programme at Tarakeswar was graced by the presence of Sourish Mukherjee, ADRM/Operations/Howrah, and P. N. Manjhi, Sr. DSO/Howrah, along with other senior officials. A Walkathon was also organised, during which participants marched from Tarakeswar station to the level crossing gates, directly interacting with villagers and road users to spread awareness about safe practices.

To engage younger minds, a drawing competition was conducted for school children at Tarakeswar station on the theme of level crossing safety. The students enthusiastically expressed their understanding of the subject through creative artwork.

As part of the initiative, IVRS(Interactive Voice Response System)-based announcements were made at all stations under Howrah Division, continuously reminding passengers of the critical importance of caution at level crossings.

The observance of International Level Crossing Awareness Day by Howrah Division reflects Indian Railways' unwavering commitment to public safety. Through coordinated efforts involving officials, civil society, and youth, the division aims to foster a culture of safety, awareness, and shared responsibility to eliminate accidents at level crossings.