Archive · 3 Aug 2026
Sealdah Division Sanctions Subways to Cut Track Deaths
The Sealdah Division of Indian Railways is the most dangerous place in India for people who cross the tracks illegally.
Every day, about three or four people die.
To stop this, the railway has decided to build seven underground walkways, called subways, so people can safely cross under the tracks.
Each subway will be about three metres wide and 2.5 metres high, and will let people, bikes, and small vehicles pass underneath.
The project will cost about 5 crore rupees per subway and should finish in a year.
This plan follows a serious accident in Murshidabad where a school bus was hit at a crossing.
The goal is to keep people safe and make it easier for them to reach schools, hospitals, and markets.
Sealdah Division is the deadliest Indian railway division, averaging 3‑4 track‑trespassing deaths daily.
In 2025, 1,108 run‑over incidents were recorded, with 933 deaths and 175 injuries; 529 incidents reported up to June 2026 caused 463 deaths.
Indian Railways has sanctioned seven Limited Height Subways at major trespassing hotspots in Sealdah to curb illegal crossings.
Each subway, about 3 m wide and 2.5 m high, will allow pedestrians, two‑wheelers, auto‑rickshaws, e‑rickshaws, and cars to cross beneath tracks, costing roughly ₹5 crore and expected to finish within a year.
The move follows heightened safety concerns after the Murshidabad pool car accident and aims to replace level crossings with subways or road overbridges.
- Who
- Indian Railways officials, including Divisional Railway Manager Rajeev Saxena
- What
- Sanctioning seven Limited Height Subways to reduce track fatalities
- When
- Subways to be completed within a year, data from 2025 and 2026
- Where
- Sealdah Division, Eastern Railway, India
- Why
- High daily deaths from trespassing and recent safety concerns
- Division
- Sealdah Division, Eastern Railway
- Fatalities 2025
- 933 deaths
- Subways sanctioned
- 7
- Cost per subway
- ₹5 crore
- Construction time
- 1 year
- Accident reference
- Murshidabad pool car accident