Railway Board to identify vulnerable accident areas

Railway Board to identify vulnerable accident areas

Expressing concern over a spate of train accidents in recent times, Railway Board Chairman A.K. Mittal has instructed Divisional Railway Managers across the country to inspect all railway sections, identify vulnerable areas and take up corrective steps to improve the safety measures.

The circular comes in the wake of “zero-accident mission” stressed by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.

The DRMs have been asked to send action taken/to be taken reports by October 31, a railway official told The Hindu.

Mr. Mittal said the spate of recent accidents highlighted the emergent concerns in respect of safety of train operations. Mr. Mittal listed the areas for DRMs to study thoroughly. They have been asked to inspect the adequacies of infrastructure, condition of railway track, especially the points and crossings and the location of signals. They should also study the safeguards at level-crossing gates and availability of clearances on the railway track conforming to the schedule of dimensions. The officials should also prepare a report if staff were safety-conscious and whether they adhered to the schedule of inspections of infrastructure with respect to safety. The DRMs have to identify the deficiencies found during their inspections and take up corrective steps. The Chairman has also sought details of the areas of systematic weaknesses, if any, and the action plan to set right them.