Dilapidated Railway Overhead Bridges Pose a Danger

Damaged beams can collapse at any time

Century-old Railway bridges not properly maintained

Passenger overhead bridges at several Railway stations on the coastal Railway have become death traps.
On March 27,  a passenger train passing Egoda Uyana Railway station in Moratuwa had a narrow escape when the overhead bridge collapsed on the railway line as it was approaching the platform.  
The overhead bridges at Koralawella, Lunawa, and Angulana Railway station are  dilapidated, and are on the verge of collapse. They are a disaster in the making.  Passengers say overhead bridges at several other Railway stations, too,  were in a similar dilapidated state. 
They pointed out that the overhead bridge at Egoda Uyana Railway station was built in 1925 as indicated  by the plaque,  and hasn’t been maintained. These century old metal constructions   have been exposed to rain and sea breeze, with resulting decay. 
The master beam of the overhead bridge that collapsed has been jacked up and supported by a row of .steps on both ends,  and faces the risk of collapsing  at any moment, recalling the collapse of a huge old tree along Duplication road in Colombo 3 a couple of years ago, killing several bus passengers. At the Egoda Uyana station,  a similar tragedy was avoided only because the engine driver forced the train into an emergency halt.
Passengers pointed out that the overhead bridges at Lunawa, Koralawella and Angulana Railway stations have not been properly maintained for more than 50 years and  the danger of collapse can’t be averted simply by filling the cracks with cement motar. Passengers expressed concern about the imminent danger of a nasty accident if  a concrete beam collapsed due to  vibrations caused by  express trains  transporting  tens of thousands of commuters daily. 
“These coastline Railway stations have been constructed during the colonial era, but not maintained for decades since independence. It should not be misunderstood that we are trying to criticise the Railway administration. Ours  is just an attempt to highlight the danger, which is of a very high degree. The Railway administration should have monitored this situation,”  passengers told the Daily Mirror. 
Meanwhile General Manager Railways Dhammika Jayasundara said the Railway is a mode of transport  requiring extensive maintenance which has been neglected since long. He said steps have  not been taken to implement an effective plan to improve the Railway. 
When questioned about  why  delapidated beam in the  overhead brige at Egoda Uyana was not repaired,  he contacted the district engineer who explained that the beam had not been removed for lack of a crane. When we queried whether the dilapidated  steps could bear the weight of the broken down beam, he denied there was any  danger of collapse.
But media personnel pointed out that the steps had developed cracks and there was a risk of collapse. 
Mr. Jayasundara said he would instruct Railway officials  to bring a crane and remove the endangered beam soon, adding that he has called for a report from  Railway engineers on the  dilapidated overhead bridges within seven days. 
But it is doubtful if an inspection of all Railway stations in the country could be carried out and a report submitted within the short span of a week.