Chennai, Sep 23 (IANS): The Southern Railway will be constructing a second elephant underpass in the Railway line between ‘B’ between Ettiamadai and Walayar in the Madukkarai forest range.

A senior official of Tamil Nadu forest department told IANS that they have already completed a joint inspection work with the Southern Railway officials regarding the elephant underpass.

Sources in Southern Railway told IANS that an amount of Rs 7.49 crore has been allocated for the construction of the two rail underpasses. While one is completed and opened, the second one is likely to be completed soon.

Elephants are facing difficulties while crossing the railway tracks in the forest lane and a couple of years ago three elephants died after being hit by a running Express train.

Tamil Nadu forest department officials told IANS that they have informed the Southern Railway officials to construct a rail fence on both sides of the track to prevent the elephants from crossing into the track.

A senior officer of Tamil Nadu forest department while speaking to IANS said, “There is already an elephant underpass in the forest area but as the elephants are used to crossing the railway track, most of the elephants don’t use the underpass and instead try to cross the railway track which is dangerous for them.”