4 IIT-B students out to prevent deaths on tracks….Yogita Rao
Four postgraduate students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) are currently finding a solution to prevent death on tracks on the Western Railway. Equipped with statistical data from railway officials, the students are all set to find a technical solution to the problem which has been bothering the railways for years.
As part of the project, Design for India, students are also designing animated videos for school students in Tamil Nadu to make the learning process more interesting.
Tim Joseph, one of the MTech students, working on the railway project, said, We have been provided with data of two years. We are looking at three different aspects non-availability of foot overbridges, more slums along the tracks, or no proper level crossing.
Most of the deaths on tracks, according to railway officials, seem to be due to crossing over from one platform to the other. The students have sought the permission to be in the cabin of the driver so that they can study the cause of fatalities.
Joseph stated that the most obvious solution would be to have more foot overbridges for students. However, as we belong to a tech school, we are looking at a more technology driven solution, added Joseph. The students will also go on a field study. They have already finalised on two stations where the track deaths are maximum in the last two years.
The students are working on the project in association with the Association for Indias Development (AID) to assist them in their quest to encourage primary education of the underprivileged children. They are working to design interactive animated videos that will be an effective medium of education for the children.
The students will initially design teaching aids only for subjects like English and Mathematics. AID has provided the students with illustrations and scripts to make the video, said Achin Jindal, coordinator, Design for India project.