In its forthcoming Budget, the Railways will be giving top priority to strengthening the safety measures to curb accidents.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said his Ministry is working on integration of systems like signaling, rolling stock to minimise accidents. For his part, Chairman Railway Board AK Mital said Railways is developing modules for web-enabled Track Management System for ensuring greater safety.
“Our target is zero accident level and we are working towards that goal. One has to migrate to a new platform and devise a long-term plan for this. The focus is on upgradation of the system including signalling, rolling stock and maximum use of information technology for strengthening safety,” said Prabhu during an interaction session with foreign media and a section of Indian media in the national Capital on Thursday.
The Rail Minister, who will present his second Rail Budget later this month, however, elaborated on the integration concept as he said the Budget proposals cannot be divulged. As per the plan, Railway is working on integration of various systems including track maintenance and signalling to develop a robust mechanism using information technology to prevent accidents. Prabhu said Japan’s safety record in train operations is the best in the world and Indian Railway is working with them as part of an agreement with the country.
Similarly, Mital too on Thursday stressed on safety of passengers and said there is strong emphasis on safety and at the same time to increase the speed as well. “In the days ahead, additional modules will be developed for inventory management and monitoring of bridge water level and rail temperature as part of the Track Management System,” he said at a two-day National Technical Seminar & Technical Exhibition organised by the Institution of Permanent Way Engineers (India) (IPWE).
Mital said with implementation of the TMS, inspection registers shall be discontinued in next six months period. The CRB also informed that a roadmap for the next five years has been drawn and plan outlay has been increased. Railway Board Member (Engineering) VK Gupta said remodelling of station yards is necessary to increase speed up to 160-200 kmph on selected routes.