Kolkata, Sep 29 — For the first time in several decades, the government of West Bengal is providing the necessary assistance to remove encroachments from railway land and prevent acts like trespassing on tracks.
Over the last few months, with the new government in power, the railways have been able to free significant amounts of land near stations from squatters. This land is now being monetised by setting up passenger amenities like mini-marts, parking lots, and public conveniences.
Breaches in barricades next to the tracks, used by people to enter illegally, are also being blocked to ensure safety and prevent accidents.
As part of the drive, Eastern Railway (ER) successfully closed a critical, heavily used trespassing location near the premises of the busy Kanchrapara railway station in the Sealdah Division on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
"This long-vulnerable spot was frequently used by members of the public for unauthorised track crossing, posing serious risks to life and affecting train operations. Railway authorities had made several earlier attempts to close this unauthorised passage. However, they were unsuccessful due to strong resistance and protests from locals. The portion has now been sealed," a senior ER official said.
In the past, the railways petitioned the state government and the local civic body for help to prevent the illegal encroachment. No help had been received. Instead, the offenders received political backing, and law and order breaches occurred if the railways insisted on enforcing the rules.
A robust barricade has now been put in place across the site to restrict unauthorised entry permanently. The closure was successfully executed through proactive efforts and the active assistance of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and state authorities.
"Efforts are being made to increase the speeds of trains. Barricading tracks to prevent trespassing is particularly important on stretches along which long-distance trains pass. Thousands of people die on the tracks every year due to trespassing, despite foot overbridges and underpasses being present," the official said.
In 2025, ER recorded 2,394 run-over cases due to trespassing within its network. These resulted in 2,038 deaths and 359 injuries. This effectively means that, on average, over five people were killed every day on an average while attempting to cross the tracks.
The Sealdah Division was the worst affected, with 1,108 run-over incidents reported. Of these, 933 were fatal.
"The successful closure of this long-pending trespassing location marks a positive step toward a safer station area. By eliminating unsafe track crossings, this critical work will significantly improve passenger convenience, making train travel more reliable, safe, and convenient for daily commuters. Preventing unauthorized crossing drastically reduces the risk of fatal accidents and avoids unexpected train detention, leading to smoother, punctual operations. We urge the public to stop trespassing, save lives, and support railway safety," ER CPRO Shibram Majhi said.