Union Minister Arjun Munda Highlights Significant Decline in Railway Accidents and Safety Initiatives

New Delhi, August 9, 2023: Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda, today lauded the substantial progress made in enhancing rail safety during a media briefing in New Delhi. Munda emphasized that the Government’s concerted efforts over the past nine years have yielded impressive results in terms of railway safety.

Addressing the media, Minister Arjun Munda highlighted the pivotal role of Indian Railways as a crucial lifeline and economic driver for the nation. He underscored the significance of ensuring the well-being of both passengers and the railway system itself through meticulous safety measures.

“The Government’s consistent priority has been to guarantee the safety of our railways and the passengers relying on them. Over the last nine years, we have implemented a series of crucial initiatives that have yielded positive outcomes,” Munda stated.

Munda revealed that the cumulative effect of these initiatives is visible in the marked decline in consequential train accidents. He informed the media that the number of consequential train accidents has witnessed a remarkable drop from 473 in the fiscal year 2000-01 to a mere 48 in the fiscal year 2022-23.

Furthermore, Minister Arjun Munda provided insights into the overall trend of train accidents. He compared the average number of consequential train accidents per annum between two distinct periods: from 2004 to 2014 and from 2014 to 2023. The former period experienced an average of 171 accidents annually, whereas the latter period saw this number decrease to an average of 71 accidents per year.

One of the notable initiatives discussed was the establishment of the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) in 2017-18, with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore over five years. The RRSK focuses on critical safety asset replacement, renewal, and upgrading. Minister Munda reported an expenditure of ₹1.08 lakh crore on RRSK works between 2017-18 and 2021-22.

Munda also highlighted technological advancements aimed at minimizing human error. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems have been implemented at 6427 stations as of May 31, 2023, to prevent accidents stemming from human oversight.

Further efforts include the provision of Interlocking of Level Crossing Gates at 11093 locations and Complete Track Circuiting at 6377 stations to enhance track occupancy verification through electrical means.

Arjun Munda also spotlighted locomotive safety enhancements, such as the Vigilance Control Device (VCD) equipped on locomotives to ensure the alertness of Loco Pilots, thereby contributing to passenger safety.

The implementation of Retro-Reflective Sigma Boards ahead of signals in electrified territories to aid visibility in foggy weather conditions was also emphasized by Munda, who reiterated that these comprehensive safety measures have demonstrated tangible improvements.

Concluding his address, Minister Arjun Munda reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to safety and security for railway passengers. He emphasized the role of the railways in contributing to the nation’s economy, including essential areas like food and energy security.