RAILWAY CORPORATE SAFETY PLAN

---

RAJYA SABHA

The Corporate Safety Plan of Indian Railways for the period 2003 to 2013 has been finalized and tabled in the Lok Sabha on August 19, 2003.

The Corporate Safety Plan (CSP) states the objectives, targets and strategies for which the Indian Railways would be striving in the next decade. The document encompasses the broad priorities and time frame of the safety related works along with assessed approximate requirement for financial investments.

Aim is to reduce overall consequential train accidents per million train kilometres from 0.44 in 2002-2003 to 0.17 in 2012-2013.

Targeting elimination of collisions by extensive use of Anti-Collision Device (ACD) and other measures.

60 per cent reduction in derailments.

Reduction in fire accidents and consequent fatalities by 80 per cent by adoption of fireproof coaches and use of fire retardant materials in the existing coaches.

Containing the rising trend in level crossing accidents.

Aiming at reduction in fatalities in case of serious accidents by use of Crash Worthy Coaches and tight lock couplers with anti-climbing features.

Filling up of all safety category posts on urgency basis.

Proposal for Safety Related Retirement Scheme (SRRS) for gangmen and drivers in age group of 50 to 57 years.

The CSP is generally based on the recommendations of Railway Safety Review Committee (Justice Khanna Committee) and encompasses technological upgradation, , renewal of assets and better maintenance practices. This covers continuous rehabilitation and modernization of assets including tracks, railway bridges, signaling, gears and rolling stock. The CSP envisages a safety action plan involving total investment of Rs. 31,835 cores for safety related works in the ten year period.

The CSP has been formulated for the period 2003-2013. The time frame for completion of safety enhancement works envisaged in the plan would depend on the quantum of work involved over the entire Indian Railways and availability of funds from year to year and inter-se priority of various projects.

This information was given by the Minister of Railways Shri Nitish Kumar in a written reply to a question from S/Shri P. Prabhakar Reddy and Manoj Bhattacharya in the Rajya Sabha today.