Bhubaneswar, May 18 (IANS): The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has initiated steps to meet any eventuality due to the cyclone Amphan, said an official on Monday.

ECoR has planned for early restoration of train traffic and railway track, if affected by Amphan.

A 24X7 disaster management cell has been opened at ECoR headquarters at Rail Sadan here and at the divisional headquarters at Visakhapatnam, Khurda Road, and Sambalpur, said the official.

The ECoR has positioned special teams for early restoration of tracks, signalling system and electrification, to run train, if there was no electric supply. Diesel locomotives have been kept ready for utilisation during failure of electricity.

The ECoR is also keeping an eye over all stations between Bhubaneswar and Bhadrak in Bhubaneswar-Kharagpur railway section, the official said.

He said the ECoR general manager has directed officials concerned to be on full alert to deal with incidents like flooding near railway tracks and to ensure safety of trains and smooth operations.

Accordingly, all precautionary measures have been taken. The drainage has been cleared of silt, vegetation and other obstructions to ensure free flow of rainwater.

The waterways on bridges have been cleared of vegetation and other obstructions.

Instructions have been issued that whenever there is heavy rain, the sectional gangmen will organise patrolling of tracks on their own in their beat to make sure that the tracks are safe for passage of trains and ensure protection at all locations where washouts/slips are likely to occur.