Since the inauguration of the Modi government 3.0, the Indian Railways has witnessed a worrying rise in accidents. This article delves into whether these events are purely coincidental or there is a larger conspiracy at work.
Recent accident
Gujarat Valsad incident: Recently, a train derailed at Gujarat Valsad, setting off an alarm again. Gonda, Uttar Pradesh Story: The Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed, adding to the series of train accidents.
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Accounting information
According to RTI activist Ajay Bose, there have been three train accidents every month since Ashwini Vaishnav took over as Railway Minister on July 7, 2021. RTI data shows that between July 7, 2021 and June 17, 2024, 131 train accidents occurred, of which 92 were train accidents. It includes 64 passenger trains and 28 freight trains.
Political commentary
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav’s frequent trips to Mumbai for election duties have also been streamlined. High-level meetings and electoral responsibilities may have distracted from important safety concerns within the railroad.
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Technological Intervention: The Role of the ‘Shield’
What is a ‘shield’?
‘Shield’ is an Indian technology designed to prevent head-on train collisions. But RTI data shows that train skids are far more common than car collisions, and ‘shields’ cannot prevent such incidents.
Current usage
In 2023-24, 36,545 km of ‘Kavach’ installations will begin. Even so, the resistance of the ‘shield’ is limited.
The reasons for accidents are increasing
Staffing shortage: Indian Railways has an approved strength of 1 lakh posts in terms of safety, and currently around 150,000 are vacant. This includes important functions such as loco pilot, track mainmentor, pointman and electrical signal keeper.
Shift in focus on new projects: There has been a significant shift in focus on projects like Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat trains. The high-level meetings associated with these projects tend to distract from day-to-day operational and safety concerns.
Signal failure: Frequent signal failure is a common issue in cities like Mumbai. Officials argue that the focus on new projects has neglected maintenance of existing infrastructure.