Railways to fence tracks to avoid cattle hits

The Railways has decided to construct fencing on the lines of NHAI crash barriers on the national highways, at key points on the route of Ahmedabad-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express which courted controversies after hitting cattle multiple times and running over a person.

The Railways has written to the Western Railway to construct the fencing at encroachment-prone areas along the 400-km Vande Bharat route.

Work is underway on Delhi–Mumbai corridor for raising speed up to 160 kmph. For raising the speed, building fencing is a requirement.

The Railway Board order said the fencing should be around 4-7 metres away from the track and that people and cattle should not get any access to the fenced track from common points such as level crossings.