Special foot plating

SWR begins special inspections after Penukonda accident

ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

It’s being done to check alertness of crew and detect any shortcomings in system

The number of inspections by officers and supervisors of South Western Railway (SWR) has almost doubled after the Hampi Express accident on May 22 at Penukonda that claimed 25 lives.

These inspections, both onboard and off the trains, are meant to check the alertness of the crew as well as shortcomings in the system, including signals, tracks, and facilities at stations.

The Railway administration has also begun counselling loco pilots, station masters and others involved in train operations about safety measures.

SWR General Manager Ashok Kumar Mital told The Hindu that all officers in the zone had been asked to participate in the special drive that includes night foot plating. He said the inspection duties of personnel had almost doubled during the special drive.

According to Anwar Hussain, Senior Divisional Safety Officer of Bangalore division, the deputy regional manager inspected the Bangalore–Dharmavaram section, Bangalore area section and Bangalore–Mysore section. He will inspect Bangalore–Tumkur section soon.

On an average, six officers and six supervisors are on night inspection in each of the three divisions of SWR. Earlier, only half of these personnel were on night inspection. Mr. Hussain said that officers in the Bangalore division conducted around 90 inspections and supervisors around 150 in the last one month.

Almost every metre of the railway line in the division had been inspected, and shortcomings, if any, had been rectified.

The regular problem of non-citing of signals due to vegetation would be rectified soon, he added.

Sudhanshu Mani, Divisional Railway Manager of SWR, Bangalore , has undertaken special personal drives to check the lines, locomotives and stations.

Asked if the special drive would be a permanent one, Mr. Mani said it could not be.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article3622504.ece