| Introduction: Contextual Introduction Body: Challenges faced by railways & the role of technology like “Kavach” in addressing challenges. Conclusion: Way forward |
Indian Railways, one of the world’s largest rail networks, faces significant challenges in ensuring the safety of its passengers and cargo. Recent accidents, such as the Kavaraipettai incident have exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure, signaling systems, and operational practices. Kavach is a significant step towards improving rail safety. It is designed to prevent collisions by automatically controlling train speeds and activating brakes when necessary.
Challenges Faced by Indian Railways in Ensuring Safety
- Aging Infrastructure: Much of Indian Railways’ infrastructure, including tracks and signaling systems, is outdated. For example, in the Kavaraipettai incident, an outdated signaling error allowed a train to enter the wrong track, leading to a collision.
- Overburdened Network: High-density and high-utilization routes often operate at over 100% capacity. This overburdened network increases the likelihood of accidents, as trains operate with little margin for error in both human and mechanical operations.
- Human Error: Train drivers, known as locomotive pilots, often work under extreme conditions. Reports indicate that pilots work 12-hour shifts without access to basic amenities such as hygienic resting facilities or toilets on engines.
- Freight Traffic and Economic Pressure: The Indian Railways’ freight basket is heavily reliant on coal transport. As sectors decarbonize, this reliance could create financial stress, further limiting investment in safety upgrades.
- Inconsistent Implementation of Safety Protocols: While counter-terrorism investigations have been employed following certain railway accidents, these efforts can sometimes overshadow the primary need for safety upgrades and proper investigation of infrastructural failures.
Role of Technology
- Automatic Collision Prevention: Kavach automatically brakes trains if two trains are on a collision course, thus avoiding accidents like the Kavaraipettai incident.
- Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD): Kavach prevents trains from passing red signals, a frequent cause of accidents due to human error. Automating response to signals minimizes the risk of drivers missing or ignoring signals.
- Cost-Effective: According to experts, Kavach can be implemented across the Indian Railways network with just 2% of the Railways’ annual capital expenditure. Its cost-effectiveness makes it an attractive option for enhancing safety across a large network.
- Limited Coverage: While Kavach has proven to be effective, its implementation is currently limited to select high-density corridors. Expanding it across the vast railway network will take at least a decade. This leaves many parts of the network vulnerable to accidents in the meantime.
- Not a Silver Bullet: Kavach is an essential tool, but it cannot resolve issues stemming from poor infrastructure, overworked staff, and network congestion. As evident from the Kavaraipettai incident, even with safety technology in place, broader systemic issues like outdated signaling and human error still pose significant risks.
- Integration with Existing Systems: Implementing Kavach across an aging infrastructure, where many systems are incompatible with modern technology, presents logistical and financial challenges. Additionally, as noted, revenue growth for Indian Railways has slowed, increasing its dependence on government funding for such capital-intensive projects.
Conclusion
A coordinated approach involving technology, infrastructure investment, and human resource management is essential to ensure sustainable and comprehensive rail safety.
