The Hindu Business Line : Rlys to get latest tech for enhanced safety

The Union Minister for Railways, Mr Lalu Prasad, along with the Minister of State, Mr Naranbhai Rathwa, and Mr R.K. Singh, Chairman, Railway Board (left), at a seminar on signalling and telecommunication systems on Indian Railways in the Capital on Friday.

New Delhi , July 23

IN a bid to reduce railway accidents, the Union Minister of Railways, Mr Lalu Prasad, on Friday, said that the Government was investing in providing latest technology and communication systems.

Inaugurating a two-day seminar on `Signalling and telecommunications systems on Indian Railways - a vision for the future', the Minister said innovative technology in signalling and telecom could provide warning to road users through flashing light and siren to avert accidents at the level crossings. The Minister expressed happiness that a new technology in this regard is being tried at 90 manned and unmanned level crossings, which, if successful, would be extended to cover all level crossings in the country. Talking of improving safety of rail services with the input of modern signalling and telecommunications, the Minister said under the ongoing Rs 17,000-crore Special Railway Safety Fund, overaged signalling equipment was being replaced so as to make the rail services safer, speedier and efficient. He said track circuiting of railway stations had already been completed on A, B, C, D and D special routes, where the average speed of trains are 75 km per hour.

The Minister expressed confidence that with the completion of the ongoing track circuiting on the entire rail routes, safety would improve immensely.

Another area of concern expressed by the Minister was that related to a driver shooting a signal resulting in major accidents. In this connection, the Minister said steps were underway to provide train safety warning system on 280 track kilometre on Southern and North Central Railways. After its successful trial, such a warning device to alert drivers would be extended to the entire route. The Minister said mobile train radio communication will be introduced for communication between the staff on board a train and a station for better safety. This system, being introduced on Northern, Eastern, East Central, North Central and Northeast Frontier Railways, would further enhance the safety of train operations, he added. In the area of telecom, the Minister said modernisation of telecom system is underway taking advantage of the ongoing revolution in the information technology sector. RailTel, a public sector unit of his Ministry, has begun providing cyber café and Internet facilities at stations and also in trains.

A beginning in this regard has already been made, the Minister added.

The Minister of State for Railways, Mr R. Velu, in his address, urged the signalling and telecom engineers to ponder over the measures for eliminating accidents at level crossings.