In a major move to enhance passenger safety and reduce accidents at railway level crossings, Southern Railway has introduced a new sensor-based safety mechanism called Auto Private Number Generation (APNG) at 237 level crossings under the Madurai and Tiruchirappalli divisions. The advanced system is aimed at eliminating human errors in non-interlocked railway gates by ensuring that trains are allowed to proceed only after gates are fully closed and locked. Officials said the project has been completed within a year, marking a significant milestone in railway safety modernization.
Traditionally, non-interlocked gates depended on gatemen manually informing station masters that the gate had been closed, using a private number as confirmation. However, this process carried the risk of incorrect communication or human negligence. With APNG, the process has now become fully sensor-driven and automated.
Safety Deployment Details
Southern Railway, Madurai Division, Tiruchirappalli Division, Station Masters, Gatemen
237 level crossings covered, accident prevention, real-time gate monitoring, automated authorization
Reduction in manual errors, sensor verification, digital display integration, signal dependency
138 gates in Trichy, 99 in Madurai, CCTV surveillance expansion, enhanced operational safety
Under the new APNG mechanism, gyro sensors have been installed on boom barriers and locking levers to detect whether the gate is properly shut. Only after the gate is securely locked does the system generate a private number automatically and transmit it to the station master’s computer. Without this confirmation, the train signal cannot be cleared.
The initiative gained urgency after last year’s tragic accident in Cuddalore district, where a train collided with a school van at a level crossing, killing three children. Railway officials accelerated modernization efforts following that incident.
To further strengthen surveillance, CCTV cameras have also been installed at 100 non-interlocked gates in Madurai and 104 in Tiruchirappalli. Live footage is directly sent to station control rooms, helping monitor gate operations and detect trespassing, attacks on gatemen, and hit-and-run vehicle incidents.
“This technology will significantly reduce human error and improve overall railway crossing safety,” Southern Railway officials confirmed.
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