Rail Safety and Related Aspects

Issues with Indian Railways

  • Old Track and Poor State of Rolling Stock.
  • The railway transport has lagged behind the requirement due to inadequate investment.
  • Large number of passengers travels without purchasing tickets.
  • The incidence of railway accidents in our country is greater as compared to other countries.
  • The railways are attacked during the time of disturbances and violence’s that arise in any part of the country.
  • Lack of modern management as railway failed to attract adequate incentives and suitable talent.
  • Commercial entity works as a bureaucratic organisation.
  • The system is beset with excessive man-power and manpower development has not kept pace with technology up gradation.
  • The problem of replacement of old and obsolete railways engines, wagons and other equipment.
  • Most of the railway lines are single lines which create great inconvenience.
  • Land availability for the rail development is also act as a barrier for developing new infrastructure.
  • The competition with road transport is growing in intensity, both in passenger and in goods transport.
  • Existing unhygienic situation by direct discharge toilets, which also corrode the rails.
  • The State Electricity Boards and NTPC increase the tariffs arbitrarily and thus adds to the burden of railways.
  • Railways are the largest consumer of diesel. Any increase in the rates of diesel, adversely affect the financial resources.
  • There is mounting deficit due to non increase in fares and tariffs by the Government due to political reasons.
  • The railways have to develop uneconomic projects due to political pressures and interferences.
  • Railways run noncore activities like running schools, hospitals, etc.

Data about rail accidents in India

  • Data compiled by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) reveals that from 2003 to 2015, 3,486 people were killed in railway accidents, with 2015 alone, accounting for 710 deaths.
  • This is comparable to the mortality rate of vector borne diseases like malaria, which claimed 562 lives in 2014, according to Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data.
  • A total of 710 people were killed, and 1,000 injured in rail accidents in 2015.
  • Northern railway is the most accident prone to accidents.
  • Human error is the primary cause of the rail accident.
  • It can be argued that budgetary support to the IR has little tangible impact on improving the situation on the safety front.
  • New trains are announced without expanding the existing network of railway tracks.

Reasons for train accidents in India

  • Train conductor negligence
  • Train derailment
  • Improper maintenance of the train tracks
  • Faulty equipment
  • Collision with another train
  • Collision with a car, bus or truck trying to cross train tracks
  • Collapsed bridges
  • Faulty train crossings
  • Large gathering of public near rail tracks, especially in nights.
  • Human error also continues to be the leading cause.

High Level Rail Safety Committee

  • The Ministry of Railways had appointed a High Level Safety Review Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Anil Kakodkar to review the safety of the Indian Railways and recommend improvements. The Committee recently presented its report. The Committee recommends a total financial investment of Rs 1, 00,000 crore over a five year period.
  • If the Committee’s recommendations are accepted, the total financial implication over the five year period is likely to be Rs 1,00,000 crore.The key observations and recommendations of the Committee are listed below:
  • The Committee notes that the ‘present environment on Indian Railways reveals a grim picture of inadequate performance’ largely due to poor infrastructure and resources, and lack of empowerment at the functional level.
  • The financial state of Indian Railways is ‘at the brink of collapse’ unless some concrete measures are taken. Passenger fares have not been increased in the last decade and the infrastructure is severely strained. All safety margins have been squeezed. This has led to a neglect of infrastructure maintenance.
  • In the present situation, the three vital functions (rule making, operations and the regulation) are all vested in the Railway Board. There is need for an independent mechanism for safety regulation. The Committee recommends the creation of a statutory Railway Safety Authority with enough powers to have a safety oversight on the operational mode of Railways.
  • The Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO), the apex technical wing of the Railways, is highly constrained. This has hampered the ability of the system to internalize emerging technologies. The Committee recommends restructuring of RDSO for greater empowerment. It also recommends that a Railway Research and Development Council (RRDC) be set up directly under the government.
  • The Committee recommends the adoption of an Advanced Signaling System (akin to the European Train Control System) for the entire trunk route length of 19,000 km within 5 years. This is estimated to cost Rs 20,000 crore.
  • All Level Crossings (both manned and unmanned) should be eliminated over five years. An estimated expenditure of Rs 50,000 crore will be required for achieving this target. The Committee is of the belief that this amount will be recovered within 7-8 years through savings in maintenance costs and improved train operations.
  • The Committee also recommends a switch over from the ICF design coaches to the much safer LHB design coaches. This is likely to cost Rs 10,000 crore over the next five years.
  • Other Committee recommendations on the maintenance of safety related infrastructure are estimated to cost about Rs 20,000 crore.

Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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