10 train timings changed in Gujarat to protect asiatic lions

To protect the endangered Asiatic lions in the Gir Forest region, Bhavnagar Division of the Western Railways has announced changes to the schedules of 10 local passenger trains.

This decision comes after the Gujarat High Court’s orders following multiple lion deaths on railway tracks.

The railway department identified over nine hotspots between Pipavav and Surendranagar where lions frequently cross the tracks. As a result, train timings on the meter-gauge tracks in the Veraval-Delvada, Delvada-Junagadh, Amreli-Veraval, Amreli-Junagadh, and Veraval-Amreli routes will be altered effective October 7.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Mashooq Ahmed stated that trains including 09531 Delvada-Junagadh and 09540 Junagadh-Amreli will now operate at revised times of 8.30 pm to ensure the safety of the lions.

This change is part of a broader effort to prevent further casualties, as seven lions were reported dead on the tracks between July 21, 2023, and January 22, with another lion recently killed on July 24, according to Ahmed.

The railway and forest departments have implemented immediate measures, including altering train schedules during nighttime hours in a 40-kilometer stretch.

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