New Delhi: Expressing concern over increasing incidents of accidents at unmanned railway crossings, Railway Minister Laloo Prasad today (Jul 23, 2004) said an innovative signalling and telecom technology was being used on trial basis to deal with the problem.

"The Electronic Interlocking Technology, to provide warning to road users through flashing light and siren for averting accidents at crossings, was being tried at 90 such points, which, if successful, would be implemented to cover all crossings across the country," he said inaugurating a two-day seminar on "Signalling and Telecommunication Systems on Indian Railways: Vision for the Future".

On providing safe rail services through modern signalling and telecommunications, Prasad said that under the Rs 17,000 crore Special Railway Safety Fund, old signalling equipments were being replaced to ensure "safer, speedier and efficient" performance.

Pointing out that track circuiting of railway stations has already been completed on special routes, where the train speed is 75 kmph, he said with this the safety would improve greatly.