What is the issue?
The rising incidence of accidents on the Indian Railways (IR), calls for an assessment of the Indian Railways system.
What are the problems in this regard?
- Capacity utilisation - This refers to the traffic flow in the available railway lines.
- For optimal performance, utilisation should be 80% to 90% of the capacity.
- However in India, in many routes, it ranges from 120% to 150% and sometimes exceeds this which poses risks.
- Maintenance - IR carried out modernisation and upgradation of track and other infrastructure with a massive infusion of funds from 1985-2000.
- This includes acquisition of new locomotives, coaches and wagons.
- However after that, IR was not focussing on the last mile works that are essential for unlocking the full potential of an upgraded network.
- This include works like easing of sharp curves, strengthening some bridges, improving track geometry to tighter tolerances, cab signalling, etc.
- Safety - Over-utilisation of railway lines leaves little time for safety inspections and essential maintenance works.
- Also, worldwide, reducing the speed differential between freight and passenger trains is done along with raising the speed of trains.
- This is the key to increasing capacity and improving safety; however IR has not met this.
- As a result of all these, IR has one of the highest incidence of rail accidents due to material, equipment and human failures.
- Besides, IR is planning for expansion through Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) and High-Speed Rail (HSR) lines.
What is to be done?
- Given the safety concerns with existing lines, these new plans require well planning before execution.
- It is high time that IR shifts focus to the core network that carries more than 80 per cent of the total traffic.
- Also, the last mile works for upgrading the trunk routes which were repeatedly deferred should be undertaken on a priority basis.
- Only this will ensure a faster and a safer rail travel in India.
Source: Indian Express
