A recent audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has revealed some startling facts that raise serious questions about the safety of Indian railways. The period under scrutiny, from April 2017 to March 2021, saw as many as 1,129 train derailments, resulting in financial damages estimated at approximately INR 32 crore.
Frightening Figures Highlight Negligence
The study highlights a worrying trend of delayed submission of inquiry reports, with 67% not filed within the expected timeframe. Furthermore, a significant number of derailments resulted from negligence across different railway departments. Maintenance oversight caused 156 incidents, while mechanical department negligence led to 182 cases. A shocking 275 derailments were attributed to operating department negligence, with a staggering 400 incidents arising due to engineering department oversights.
Overspeeding: A Grim Contributor to Railway Mishaps
Aside from departmental negligence, overspeeding also featured prominently as a cause, accounting for 154 derailments during the study period. This grim revelation underscores the urgent need for speed regulation measures to enhance train safety.
The Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh: A Promise Unfulfilled?
Despite the introduction of the ‘Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh’, a railway safety fund announced in the 2017-18 Budget, the CAG report revealed financial inconsistencies that adversely impacted railway safety efforts. The audit showed that the railways fell short of depositing the promised INR 15,775 crore in the fund from 2017-18 to 2020-21.
A Wake-Up Call Following a Tragic Incident
This CAG report, unveiling the state of railway safety in India, comes on the heels of a devastating triple train accident that resulted in the loss of 275 lives in Odisha’s Balasore district. As we grapple with the aftermath of this tragedy, the alarming findings of this report serve as a wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need to address train safety in India.
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