Railway Safety

Railway Safety

Why in news?

Recent accident in Odisha resurfaced the issue of status of railway safety in India

Status

• Indian Railways is the 4^th largest railway network of the world (US, China, Russia)
• A total of more than 67000 km of railway network present. Around 55000 km built by British.
• More than 22 million passengers commute daily.

Issues

Finance

• CAG audit 2022 found that while the Gross Budgetary Support of Rs 15,000 crore had been contributed, the Railways’ internal resources fell short of the target for funding the remaining Rs 5,000 crore per year to RRSK.
• The report highlighted a decline in the allotment of funds for track renewal works, from Rs 9,607 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 7,417 crore in 2019-20.
• Operating ratio of railways is deteriorating. 107% in 2021-22.
• Cross subsidisation

Infrastructure

• The CAG report reveals that nearly 75% of the consequential train accidents between 2017-18 and 2020-21 were caused by derailments.
• Track congestion
• Lack of modernisation
  • Kavach initiative, which aims to enhance railway safety in India has not been installed on all the routes. Of the total route length of 1.03 lakh kilometres, only 1,455 kilometres have been brought under Kavach yet.

Systemic issues

• Shortage of human resource
• Politicisation

 

Basic Reasons Behind Railway Accidents:

1. Infrastructure Defects: Railway accidents often stem from defects in the infrastructure, encompassing tracks, bridges, overhead wires, and rolling stock. These issues arise due to inadequate maintenance, aging, vandalism, sabotage, or natural disasters. Much of the infrastructure dates back to the 19th and 20th centuries and hasn’t been modernized to meet current demand and standards. Lack of funds, corruption, and inefficiency further hinder development and maintenance. Routes operating beyond 100% capacity increase the risk of accidents due to congestion and overloading.
2. Human Errors: Railway staff, responsible for operating, maintaining, and managing trains and tracks, are susceptible to human errors caused by factors such as fatigue, negligence, corruption, or disregard for safety protocols. Errors may include incorrect signalling, miscommunication, over-speeding, or overlooking defects or hazards. Inadequate training and communication skills among the staff impact performance and coordination.
3. Signalling Failures: The signalling system, crucial for controlling train movement, can fail due to technical glitches, power outages, or human errors. Such failures can result in trains running on the wrong track, collisions with other trains or stationary objects, or overshooting stations. Recent incidents, like the train accident in Odisha, were reportedly caused by changes in electronic interlocking that weren’t communicated effectively to the drivers.
4. Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLCs): UMLCs, where railway tracks intersect roads without barriers or signals, pose a significant risk. Vehicles or pedestrians may not notice approaching trains or attempt to cross when a train is near.

In 2018-19, UMLCs accounted for 16% of all train accidents in India. While unmanned level crossings on broad gauge routes have been eliminated, manned level crossings (MLCs) still exist, presenting a risk of accidents.

Steps taken for Railway Safety:

• Mission Zero Accident was one of the Missions announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17. It comprises the following two sub-missions.

• • Elimination of Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLC) by 2019
  • Developing Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)

• In the Budget 2017-18, an exclusive fund called “Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh” (RRSK) was created with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore over a period of 5 years for giving a major boost to safety related works.
• GPS based Fog Pass Device: A device to help loco pilots navigate in foggy conditions. It is a GPS enabled hand-held device that displays the exact distance of the approaching landmarks such as signals, level crossing gates, etc. It also alerts the loco pilot with a loud buzzer when the train approaches a signal or a level crossing gate.

• Linke Hofmann Busch Coaches vs Integral Coach Factory Coaches
• Removal of unmanned crossings.

 

Commission on Railway Safety

• It deals with matters related to safety of rail travel and operations, among some other statutory functions – inspectorial, investigatory, and advisory – as laid down in the Railways Act, 1989.
• It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) instead of the Ministry of Railways.

Interlocking system in Railways

• Interlocking System refers to a crucial safety mechanism used to control train movements and ensure safe operations at railway stations and junctions.

As of 2022, 2,888 stations in India were equipped with an electronic interlocking system — comprising 45.5% of the Indian Railways network.

 

Various Recommendations for Railway Safety:

• Kakodkar Committee (2012):
  • Creating a statutory Railway Safety Authority
  • Setting up a non-lapsable Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) of Rs. 1 lakh crores over 5 years for safety works
  • Adopting advanced technologies for track maintenance and inspection
  • Improving human resource development and management
  • Ensuring independent accident investigation
• Bibek Debroy Committee (2014):
  • Separating railway budget from general budget
  • Outsourcing non-core activities
  • Creating a Railway Infrastructure Authority of India
• Vinod Rai Committee (2015)
  • Establishing an independent Railway Safety Authority with statutory
  • Setting up a Railway Accident Investigation Board to conduct independent and impartial inquiries.
  • Creating a separate Railway Infrastructure Company to own and maintain railway assets
  • Introducing a performance-linked incentive scheme for railway employees

Way forward:

1. Increased Investment in Safety Measures: Allocate additional funds for critical safety-related initiatives, including track renewal, bridge repair, signalling upgrades, and coach refurbishment.
2. Comprehensive Training for Employees: Provide regular and thorough training to railway staff, focusing on the latest technologies, equipment, safety protocols, and procedures to minimize human errors.
3. Elimination of Level Crossings: Replace unmanned and manned level crossings with Road Overbridges (ROBs) or Road Underbridges (RUBs) to enhance safety.
4. Adoption of Advanced Technologies: Implement advanced technologies such as anti-collision devices (ACDs), including Kavach/Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Train Protection Warning System (TPWS), and Automatic Train Control (ATC) across the entire railway network.
5. Performance-Linked Incentives: Introduce incentives based on performance for railway staff, encouraging adherence to safety rules and procedures.
6. Outsourcing Non-Core Activities: Transfer non-core activities like hospital and college maintenance to private or public entities to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
7. Establishment of a Statutory Railway Safety Authority: Form a statutory body empowered to set safety standards, conduct audits and inspections, enforce accountability and penalties for lapses, and investigate accidents.
8. Regular Safety Audits and Inspections: Conduct frequent safety audits and inspections to monitor and evaluate the safety performance of railway staff, infrastructure, and equipment.
9. Enhanced Coordination and Communication: Improve communication and coordination among various railway entities involved in operations, including the railway board, zonal railways, divisions, production units, and research organizations.
10. Implementation of Confidential Incident Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS): Establish a system similar to CIRAS, encouraging lower-level staff to report deviations in real-time while ensuring confidentiality. Support this system with appropriate communication and information technology infrastructure.
11. Cultural Shift in Safety Management: Promote a shift in management mindset from fault-finding and punishment-oriented approaches to one emphasizing shared commitment to safety, correction-focused strategies, and active listening to staff voices.
12. Rethink Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS) Scheme: Evaluate the impact of the IRMS scheme on loyalty, ownership, and safety management. Consider revising the scheme to preserve specialization and loyalty to specific disciplines, fostering a stronger commitment to safety

 

Bharat Net Project

Why in News?

• The Ministry of Communications recently reported the readiness of 6,658-gram panchayats under the BharatNet Phase II initiative in Tamil Nadu.
• Recently Rs. 1.39 lakh crore have been approved in the Union Budget for the Modernization of the Project

 

About Bharat Net Project

• BharatNet, also recognized as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), strives to deliver high-speed broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats across India.
• This monumental rural telecom project gained approval from the Union Cabinet on October 25, 2011, and is implemented in phases to connect all Gram Panchayats (approximately 2.5 lakh) by granting non-discriminatory access to broadband connectivity for telecom service providers.
• The primary goal is to empower access providers, such as mobile operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Cable TV operators, and content providers, to launch various services like e-health, e-education, and e-governance in rural and remote India.
• The project is executed by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), established under the Indian Companies Act 1956.

 

Status of the Project

Approximately 1.94 lakh villages have already been connected, with the remainder expected to be linked by 2025. Additionally, 583,551 Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) connections are operational, and 104,674 Wi-Fi hotspots are installed to ensure last-mile connectivity as of July 24, 2023.

 

Expected Benefits of the Project

• Education: Enhanced access to educational resources and online learning opportunities in rural areas.
• Healthcare: Telemedicine and e-health services can enhance healthcare accessibility in remote areas.
• Agriculture: Farmers gain access to information on market prices, weather forecasts, and agricultural techniques.
• Entrepreneurship: Rural entrepreneurs can utilize e-commerce platforms and online markets.
• Governance: Increased transparency and accountability in government services, supporting initiatives like Make In India, Start-up India, and Stand-up India.
• Employment: The project is anticipated to generate around 10 crore man-days of employment during its rollout.

 

Key Issues

1. Infrastructure Challenges:
   • Last-Mile Connectivity: The extension of connectivity to individual households has been sluggish.
   • Geographical Barriers: Reaching remote and hilly areas with optical fibre poses technical and financial challenges.
   • Right of Way (RoW) Issues: Obtaining permissions for laying fibre cables through public and private land can be bureaucratic and time-consuming.
2. Funding Challenges:
   • Cost Overruns: The project has experienced significant cost overruns due to unexpected geographical challenges.
   • Funding Gaps: Over-reliance on government funding, impacted by budget constraints.
   • Limited Private Sector Participation: Perceived risks and regulatory hurdles have hindered private sector investment.
3. Implementation Challenges:
   • Coordination Issues: Challenges in coordination between different government agencies involved.
   • Skill Gap: Shortage of skilled manpower required for installation and maintenance of optical fibre networks.

 

Measures to Address Issues

• Focus on Last-Mile Connectivity: Utilize innovative technologies like aerial fibre and satellite connectivity to bridge the last-mile gap.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Leverage private capital and expertise through PPPs.
• Increased Funding: Enhance government allocation of funds for the project.
• Capacity Building: Invest in training programs to develop a skilled workforce for network installation and maintenance.

 

Way Forward

• The BharatNet Project faces a combination of technical, financial, operational, and awareness-related challenges.
• Addressing these challenges is essential for the project’s success in achieving its goal of providing digital connectivity to every corner of rural India.
• Efforts should be made to expedite the implementation process by addressing bottlenecks and streamlining the deployment of infrastructure. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, local bodies, and private partners can help speed up the process.
• Ensuring a consistent and sustainable flow of funds is crucial for the project’s success. Clear financial planning, allocation, and management are necessary to support the project’s expansion and maintenance activities.
• Focusing on improving the quality of service is vital to attract and retain users. This involves addressing technical issues, ensuring consistent bandwidth, and minimizing network downtime