New Delhi: Amid incidents of heavy rains and soil erosion, the Railways is conducting a safety review, especially focused on road under bridges (RUBs) prone to waterlogging. Along with this, instructions have been given to strengthen safety barriers, upgrade signaling systems, ensure robust alarm mechanisms and preparation of emergency equipment. To improve safety standards, officials have been instructed to conduct round-the-clock monitoring and frequent inspections at important places, and follow the instructions of the Railway Board during safety-related activities.
Explaining the safety measures, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Division, Uchit Singhal told ETV Bharat, “Safety review is being done at several points to avoid any risk during train operations. Railways has already taken several safety measures after which the division found technical problems at some places in bridges and tracks. Railways has already identified several sensitive points and these points are being taken care of to ensure smooth train operations.”
He said, “Railways always gives priority to safe rail operations for passengers as well as trains.”
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northern Railway, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay said, “Safety review of all bridges is done from time to time and is done regularly. Railways monitors water level during rainy season and other monitoring systems are enhanced especially during monsoon.”
The railways has laid strategic emphasis on safety measures in sensitive operational areas, including train shunting operations, structural integrity of bridges and tunnels, signal visibility and alarm systems, track blanketing and ballasting, and emergency equipment readiness.
South Central Railway General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava on Monday held a comprehensive safety review meeting and special attention was given to waterlogging-prone RUBs. Along with this, instructions were given to strengthen safety barriers, upgrade signalling systems and ensure robust alarm mechanisms.
To enhance safety standards, Srivastava has directed to conduct round-the-clock monitoring and frequent inspections at critical locations, prompt completion of repair works at vulnerable sites, maintain accurate and updated operational registers, strictly follow Railway Board instructions for all safety-related activities, implement staff sensitisation programmes including group meetings and individual counselling for security category personnel.
He said all supervisors should constantly monitor activities at the field level and any problem should be addressed and rectified at the earliest.
Around 150 trains on the rail network were affected due to heavy rains and soil erosion for the last several days.
Meanwhile, DRM Bhusaval conducted a detailed inspection of Nandgaon railway station to review the works under ABSS (Amrit Bharat Station Yojana). The inspection included inspection of passenger amenities, SM room, relay room, circulating area and goods shed, with the main aim of improving safety, convenience and overall station experience.
General Manager of Northeast Railway Uday Borwankar and senior officials also conducted a detailed inspection of the stations to take stock of the preparations.
