Indian Railways: Massive Safety Drive To Prevent Train Derailments

Amid the increasing number of derailment in the recent time, Indian Railways has launched a month-long mega safety drive from 28 October across the country to eliminate any gaps in maintenance of fixed assets, locomotives and rolling stock.

The railways aims to achieve zero accident rate with safety continuing to be the foremost priority of the national transporter.

Recently, there were many cases of derailments reported from several zones. Though there were no casualties, the incidents are a cause of worry for the railways.

Break failure and rail fracture are believed to be major causes of these derailments which resulted in traffic disruptions in those affected routes.

The railways has directed Zonal Railways to launch a month-long safety drive for strengthening safety. During the drive, it will be ensured that extant procedures are followed and monitoring of human factors is carried out.

All Zonal Railways have been asked to ensure that officers in headquarters and divisions carry out thorough inspection and ensure correction of deficiencies found during inspections.

At least one headquarter officer must be on inspection on each day during the drive in each division. Also, major sections of each division must be under the direct inspection of an officer.

All sections of divisions are to be inspected by divisional railway managers /additional divisional railway managers. General health of fixed assets is to be examined.

Directives for this mega safety drive from Railway Board includes regular patrolling of all tracks and the same should be monitored on a day to day basis, surprise checks at stations to ensure proper operational practices are being followed; no safety system is being bypassed.

Also, gate, station and other operating staff shall be encouraged to be vigilant.