RAILWAYS LAUNCH SHORT TERM SAFETY
PLAN
The Ministry of
Railways has asked General Managers of all the Zonal Railways
to draw out a short-term safety plan immediately pooling all the
resources of each department in a cohesive ad integrated manner
involving all officials including the lowest ones connected with
train operations and maintenance.
In a directive
issued here today, the Chairman Railway Board and ex-officio Principal
Secretary to the Government in the Ministry of Railways, Shri
R.K. Singh, has called for a strategy in the form of multi-pronged
attack on deficiencies and lacuna, noticed wherever in the system
and taking remedial measures.
Shri Singh has
asked General Managers to ensure safer train operation and restore
the image of Indian Railways as the safest mode of public transport
in the country. General Managers and Divisional Railway Managers
have been asked to identify vulnerable and accident prone sections
and initiate quick measures to prevent accidents.
The broad objectives
of the short-term safety plan include preventive maintenance of
assets like track, level crossings, bridges, signalling installation,
coaches, wagons and locomotives. Under the plan unusual occurrences
and transient asset failures will be investigated immediately
and corrective steps taken.
The other measures
include intensive and extensive monitoring of driving crews at
lobbies and enroute by senior supervisors, stepped up breathalyzer
tests of drivers and frequent surprise checks.
The Chairman has
said that Indian Railways are under severe stress and strain due
to recent fatal accidents. In the first six months of Calder year
2003, there have been four major train accidents, involving fatalities
more than ten in each case. Undoubtedly, focus has to be intensified
to arrest this trend immediately. Statistics apart, traveling
public and railway customers judge our credibility and reliability
of the train services by the fact that rail travel has to be the
safest mode of transport.
