Why in the news?

The turmoil has not subsided since the tragic accident involving the GFCJ container train, which, while travelling at high speed, collided with the 13174 Agartala-Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express, resulting in 11 deaths and approximately 40 injuries.

Indian Railways: Recent Issues

• Tragic Accident: The GFCJ container train collided with the 13174 Agartala-Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express, causing 11 deaths and around 40 injuries.
• Premature Conclusions: The Chairperson of the Railway Board prematurely blamed the container train crew and provided incorrect information about casualties.
• Slow Rollout of Kavach System: Kavach, an indigenous signalling system to prevent collisions, has been slowly implemented due to limited industrial capacity.
• Staffing Issues: Indian Railways is overstaffed but has critical vacancies in safety-sensitive positions, leading to stress and overwork for existing staff.
• Ambiguous Protocols: Ambiguous rules for handling Automatic signal failures create confusion and increase the risk of accidents.

What are the major challenges that Indian Railways faces?  

• Safety Concerns: Inadequate measures to prevent collisions and improve overall safety, despite technological advancements.
• Staffing Shortages: Critical vacancies in essential roles such as loco pilots, train managers, and signal maintainers, lead to overworked staff.
• Slow Technological Implementation: Delayed implementation of safety technologies like the Kavach system due to limited industrial capacity and lack of focus.
• Ambiguous Safety Protocols: Poorly drafted rules and unclear protocols for handling signal failures and emergencies.
• Managerial and Communication Issues: Premature conclusions and miscommunication by top management, undermine trust and effective crisis management.

What can be the solution?

• Enhanced Safety Protocols: Strengthen and clarify protocols for Automatic signal failures and other emergency situations.
• Accelerated Technology Adoption: Fast-track the implementation of safety technologies like the Kavach system, with targets of 4,000 to 5,000 km/year.
• Increase Recruitment in Critical Areas: Fill vacancies in essential safety roles promptly to reduce stress and workload on existing staff.
• Encourage Industrial Capacity Building: Support and incentivize allied industries to increase capacity for producing and implementing safety technologies.
• AI-Enabled Safety Monitoring: Implement AI-enabled applications to analyze digital data from station loggers and train microprocessors for actionable safety insights.
• Focus on Managerial Accountability: Ensure that managerial issues are thoroughly investigated and addressed to improve overall safety management.

Steps taken by the government:

• The government has established the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK), a dedicated fund with a corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore over 5 years, to finance critical safety asset replacement, renewal, and upgradation.
• The government has implemented Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems at 6,427 stations as of May 2023, which centrally operate points and signals to eliminate human error-related accidents.

Conclusion: Strengthen and clarify safety protocols for handling signal failures and emergencies, ensuring clear guidelines and training for staff. Fast-track the implementation of safety technologies like the Kavach system, setting annual targets of 4,000 to 5,000 km to improve overall safety and prevent collisions.

Mains PYQ:

Q Why is Public Private Partnership (PPP) required in infrastructural projects? Examine the role of PPP model in the redevelopment of Railway Stations in India. (UPSC IAS/2022)

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