Train speeds reduced in Amreli to save lions
Updated: Apr 8th, 2024
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| Lions in Gujarat |
In a meeting held in Junagadh on Apr 3, senior officials from the railway and forest departments discussed several important measures to prevent lion deaths on the 100-km railway track stretch in Amreli district.
This stretch has proven to be a death trap for lions, with many being injured or killed by trains.
The meeting was held in response to a Gujarat High Court order, which had directed the two departments to jointly develop a SOP (standard operating procedure) to address the issue.
The SOP will be presented to the court on Apr 9.
Measures to stop lion deaths
It was decided in this meeting that the speed of trains on the 100-km stretch between Pipavav and Liliya will be reduced from 100 kmph to 40 kmph.
In addition, more than 50 LED solar lights will be installed in areas of the tracks where lion movement is prominent. The number of lights will be gradually increased in the future.
The forest department had initially proposed reducing the train speed to 20 kmph, which was declined by the railway department.
PIL in the High Court
Over 25 trains travel on this track every 24 hours, at speeds ranging from 70 kmph to 100 kmph.
The HC took up a suo moto public interest litigation (PIL) of the lions being killed by trains on the railway track between Pipavav, Rajula, Savarkundla, and Liliya regions of Amreli.
The court directed the departments to take immediate steps to prevent lion deaths and to create an SOP.
In a previous hearing, the court expressed concern over the lack of coordination between the two departments and directed them to work together to find a solution.
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