Hyderabad: At a time when safety concerns are mounting across transport systems, incidents of railway track trespassing have surged sharply in the South Central Railway, particularly in Telangana. Over the past five years, such cases have risen by more than 1,700%.According to an RTI query filed by TOI, nearly 1,000 trespassing cases were registered in 2021. By 2025, the figure had climbed dramatically to 18,000. More than half of these cases were reported from the Secunderabad division. The Vijayawada division recorded 2,786 cases, followed by the Hyderabad division with 2,353 cases. Trespassing also turned fatal, with more than 700 deaths reported last year alone.In several parts of Hyderabad, including Moula Ali, Secunderabad, Begumpet, Nampally and Lingampally, people frequently use railway tracks as shortcuts or to access restricted areas. Even within railway stations, many passengers continue to cross tracks between platforms instead of using foot overbridges (FOBs). Under Section 147 of the Railways Act, trespassing can attract a fine of Rs 1,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.Officials from the Railway Protection Force attributed the sharp rise in registered cases to intensified monitoring and stricter enforcement measures.“Over the past five years, we have focused on identifying and penalising trespassers to reduce accidents. Special drives are regularly conducted to book such cases,” a senior RPF official said.The RPF has also been conducting awareness campaigns at stations and in nearby residential areas, educating the public about the dangers of crossing railway tracks. Regular safety announcements at stations and inside trains continue to urge passengers to use foot overbridges and subways.To further curb trespassing, SCR is installing fencing along high-speed rail corridors where trains operate at speeds of up to 130 kmph. The project covers nearly 1,835 km and is estimated to cost around Rs 3,200 crore.Special attention is being given to MMTS routes, which serve thousands of daily commuters and pass through densely populated areas where track crossing is common. However, railway authorities noted that fencing installed at several locations has been damaged by local residents, posing a challenge for enforcement and safety measures.
