Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Make railway commuters feel secure' that was published in Newsband

Make railway commuters feel secure

While sabotage is indeed a factor in some derailments, bad railway performance is responsible for the majority. The main causes of accidents are variation in the wheel gauges of two coaches, carriages being run beyond their useful life, failure of railway equipment, derelict staff, rail fractures and even non-railway factors.

India’s Railways serves the vital function of providing travel access to millions. Mahatma Gandhi had said that ‘Third Class in Indian Railways’ have the responsibility of making it equitable and comfortable and that it must also be safe.

There is need for budgetary support to raise safety in a government-run transport network. Replacing ageing and unsafe carriages with modern one is necessary. But supply has not kept pace with requirement.

Raising the performance of the Indian Railways needs a clear vision for both service and financing, with zero tolerance for accidents. Use should be made of technologies such as ultrasonic flaw detection to keep tracks safe,

Only additional funds or upgrading railways with new technology won't serve the purpose of the railway safety. Because the majority of accidents were caused by factors completely under control of railway administration, most incidents can be prevented just by strong vigilance and performing duties by each individual responsible person. The strong administrative control is the need of an hour.

Mere fund allocation will not work. What is required is monitoring - the utilization of the fund, the quality of work carried out and fixing responsibility and penal action where the official is found guilty. Railway should attach priority to safety of passengers and cleanliness of the compartments and toilets. There is no point in launching ambitious and costly projects like bullet trains to the benefit of few without ensuring safety and hygiene to the ordinary passengers in ordinary trains.

While it has become a habit of the government and politicians to blame the 'anti- national' or terrorist elements for almost every railway accident, the investigations have shown lacunae in the operations itself. The tracks swell as the trains are obsolete and need replacement. The drivers and other fourth class employees do not get adequate remuneration or facility for healthy working conditions. The signal system is poor and sufficient funds are not being allocated. "Derelict staff" - this is the real cause of mostl rail accidents. Our inherent systems on which promotions are made automatically but not based on quality output.

Another important factor is to increase the passenger fares in line with that of State Road Transports. The Railway administration must allocate more funds on safety measures. But it is struggling to meet even the operating cost due to paucity in revenue. Increasing the speed and number of trains is not the criterion but to assure a safe travel for crores of people seeking Railway as their key mode of transport.