Train accidents in India – TRACK CHANGES- Accidents are on the rise as the railway infra grapples with increasing pressure. How can it cope?

Source: The post train accidents in India, has been created on the article “TRACK CHANGES- Accidents are on the rise as the railway infra grapples with increasing pressure. How can it cope?” published in “Live mints” on 23rd November 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- Economy- Infrastructures (railway)

News: The article discusses recent train accidents in India, highlighting the increasing number of such incidents due to pressure on the railway system. It also mentions efforts to improve safety, like the Kavach system, and suggests a need for better maintenance and regulatory measures.

Background

In recent years, India’s railways have seen a decline in overall consequential accidents, but the severity of incidents remains a concern. For instance, the first half of this financial year witnessed 20 serious accidents, including the Buxar derailment and the Vizianagaram collision. This trend, compared to the 48 consequential accidents in the entire previous year, suggests a need for ongoing and enhanced safety measures in the railway network.

What are the reasons for the increase in train accidents in India?

Increased Traffic: Post-COVID-19, there’s a 30% rise in consequential train accidents due to higher passenger and freight traffic.

Maintenance Challenges: Pressure on punctuality leads to reduced maintenance blocks. For instance, the Buxar accident in October was linked to a broken rail, potentially preventable with better maintenance.

Equipment Failures: There’s an increase in equipment failures, such as wagon detachments and signal issues. In the first half of this financial year, these failures were higher compared to the previous year.

Human Errors: Long working hours and lack of accountability contribute to accidents caused by human error.

Slow Capacity Expansion: Delayed infrastructure upgrades strain the system. For example, the Bahanaga Bazar accident in Odisha was due to faulty wiring and signaling.

Incomplete Safety Systems: The Kavach (Train Collision Avoidance System), though promising, covers only 1% of the rail network, insufficient to significantly reduce accidents due to human errors.

What initiatives have been taken to address railway safety in India?

Railway Safety Fund: The Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) was set up with a corpus of ₹1 trillion for five years starting 2017-18. It focuses on replacing, renewing, and upgrading critical safety assets. By 2021-22, a gross expenditure of ₹1.08 trillion was made on RRSK works.

Kavach System: Indian Railways introduced Kavach, an indigenous automatic train protection system. It’s designed to prevent accidents due to signal passing and over-speeding.

Maintenance and Renewals: The railway ministry plans railway maintenance in advance. By November 2023, around 3000 kilometers of track renewals were completed, meeting 66% of the annual target.

Audit reports and recommendations: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) periodically conducts audits of Indian Railways, identifying shortcomings and making recommendations to address safety concerns.

For more information read here

What should be done?

Increase Accountability and Training: Address human error by enforcing stricter accountability and providing better training. For instance, the Andra Pradesh collision due to signal overshooting highlights the need for better crew training.

Establish a Safety Regulatory Body: This would oversee safety standards, especially with the increasing inclusion of private operators and new high-speed corridors.

Leverage Technology and AI: Adopt more advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to reduce human error and enhance overall safety operations.

For more information read here

Question for practice:

Discuss the key challenges and initiatives related to railway safety in India.