New Delhi: The Railway Board has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court regarding train accidents. Sanjay Mishra, Principal Executive Director of the Railway Board, told the apex court that there has been a marked reduction in rail accidents over the past 10 years.
Between 2004 and 2014, the number of such accidents was 1,711, averaging 171 per year. By contrast, between 2014 and 2024, the number has come down to 678, averaging 68 per year. A comparative study of accidents during the UPA-1 and UPA-2 tenures and those under the current government was presented in the affidavit.
The board also stated that in 2000-01, the number of accidents was 473, while in 2023-24, it had decreased to 40. It further reported that in 2000-01, the Accident Per Million Train Kilometer (APMTKM) safety rate was 0.65, which has now reduced to 0.03 in 2023-24, suggesting a more than 95% improvement.
The affidavit mentioned that each railway zone has developed and implemented an action plan to prevent accidents. According to the board, the Centralised Electronic Interlocking System was implemented at signal stations on 6,589 stations by June of this year.
Kavach technology introduced
The Kavach technology has been introduced on a 1,465-km route with 144 locomotives in South Central Railway. This is part of a phased plan being implemented with various technical advancements. To address the issue of fog during the winter, GPS-based Fog Safety Devices have been provided to locomotive pilots. Besides, Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (UFSD) is being used to test tracks, enabling timely repairs of damaged tracks.
70% drop in train accidents in 10 years
On Tuesday, the Railway Ministry pointed out in a written reply to Parliament that there has been a significant decline in train accidents over the past decade, due to improved safety measures and operational enhancements. The ministry reported that consequential train accidents have declined by 70 per cent, from 135 in 2014-15 to just 40 in 2023-24. These accidents are usually caused by factors such as track defects, equipment malfunctions, and human errors, which often lead to damage to railway property, including tracks, rolling stock, and signalling equipment.
