What is India doing to address the rising number of railway derailments and accidents in the country?

India has witnessed a troubling rise in railway derailments and accidents in recent months, sparking widespread concern among the public and providing political ammunition to opposition parties. Among the more notable incidents was a tragic derailment in June 2023 in Odisha’s Balasore district, where over 290 passengers lost their lives and thousands were injured. This incident, which ranks among the deadliest in Indian railway history, was traced to human error.

Other derailments, such as one near Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh in September 2023, further underscored the growing concerns surrounding the safety of the nation's railways. The increasing frequency of such incidents has forced the government to take decisive action to improve the railway system's safety measures and regain public confidence.

Railway safety concerns

In response to the mounting worries over railway safety, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has reaffirmed that the government's priority is to ensure the safety of passengers and trains. According to the minister, several advanced safety measures are being implemented to modernise and secure India's vast railway network. Central to these efforts is the Kavach system, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) technology. Vaishnaw stressed that the government is accelerating the deployment of this system across the railway network, emphasising its critical role in preventing accidents.

The Kavach system plays a pivotal role in enhancing safety by automatically applying brakes in situations where the train driver fails to do so, ensuring that trains operate within prescribed speed limits. It also helps in maintaining safety during adverse weather conditions, such as heavy fog. By creating an interconnected safety network through the installation of RFID tags, telecom towers, and optical fibre along the tracks, Kavach allows for real-time communication and tracking, making the railway system much safer.

The government has laid out ambitious plans for the extensive rollout of Kavach across over 1,00,000 kilometres of track and more than 7,000 stations in the coming years. The Railway Minister noted that tenders have already been issued to install the system on 10,000 locomotives and 9,600 kilometres of track. This comprehensive approach aims to significantly reduce accidents across India's railway network.

Beyond Kavach

Beyond the deployment of Kavach, Indian Railways is also implementing several other critical safety measures aimed at preventing derailments and improving overall railway infrastructure. One key area of focus is the regular inspection and testing of tracks. In the current fiscal year, over 97,000 inspections have been conducted to ensure that tracks remain safe for operation. Additionally, advanced ultrasound testing technology is being used to check the structural integrity of rail tracks and welds. Since April, approximately 1,86,000 kilometres of track and over 1.1 million welds have been examined using ultrasound machines, helping to identify flaws that could lead to derailments.

The introduction of new ultrasound machines, along with the rehabilitation of railway bridges and the construction of numerous flyovers and underpasses, further demonstrates the government's commitment to improving infrastructure. Meanwhile, fog safety devices have been installed in 5,300 locations to mitigate the risks posed by low-visibility conditions, a common cause of accidents during the winter months.

Indian Railways is also prioritising the renewal of older tracks. So far, around 2,500 kilometres of track have been replaced to ensure a safer and more modern railway network. The Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), a key body responsible for railway safety, has been conducting rigorous quality checks on track fittings and other equipment to ensure that all safety standards are adhered to.

Furthermore, special attention is being given to training personnel in the use of these new technologies, particularly the Kavach system. Training programs are being conducted at the Indian Railways Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications (IRISET) to familiarise staff with the system, ensuring they are well-equipped to manage and operate the advanced safety technologies being introduced.

Future plans

The government’s long-term strategy for railway safety involves expanding the use of Kavach to some of the busiest railway routes, including the Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Kolkata corridors. These corridors, covering 3,000 kilometres, will soon see the full implementation of the Kavach system, with work on another 6,000 kilometres of track slated to begin shortly thereafter. Vaishnaw expressed confidence that the latest version of Kavach would be fully deployed across the entire railway network within five to six years.

While new trains will be equipped with Kavach from the outset, the existing fleet of locomotives will also be retrofitted with the system, ensuring uniform safety standards across both old and new trains. The Railway Minister pointed out that the system had already undergone rigorous trials and was found to be effective in various emergency scenarios, providing a much-needed layer of protection against accidents caused by human error.

(With inputs from PTI)