'No Short Cut At Any Cost Is Allowed': Railway Minister At Delhi Divisional Team Meeting

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday (17 June) instructed the senior Railway officials of Delhi Division to take all preventive measures so as to avoid any recurrence of Balasore-like incident in future.

Seeking a plan for foolproof system during his visit to the Control Room of Delhi Division, he said railway divisional controls are nerve centre of train operations.

Emphasising on the quality work, he said there should be strict monitoring of the work done and no short cut at any cost is allowed.

Vaishnaw also added that all maintenance blocks are to be planned well in advance and the general manager is to release the calendar of blocks to be undertaken in a year.

Blocks of a particular section means no train operation will take place during that period. Blocks are required for repair and strengthening of the track.

In a three-hour meeting with the divisional team, the Railway Minister discussed recent experience of controllers and maintenance staff during which he stated that during major blocks spreading more than three days, principal head of the concerned department has to be present at the site.

Giving a series of instructions, he said a proper log of petty blocks taken on daily basis should be analysed by the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) on weekly basis.

"Before applying for block, the concern department [has] to give proper justification for block and details of block last taken in that section and block given to one department should be utilised fully by other departments as well," he said.

Highlighting the importance of safety of passengers, he asked that all the staff involved in safety of train must be transferred periodically and asked the ADRM to hold a safety meeting on daily basis in divisional control room.

"Even the smallest of possible thing which may affect safety should not be neglected," he said adding, "Regular safety seminars, training, counselling and inspection to be done."

Taking into account the contribution of the railway employees, he said that feedback from field staff would be taken to improve the system and the staff would be awarded suitably to motivate them.

He also asked DRM to ensure that staff should not work in an environment of fear and stress.

Railway Minister visited the section controls, coaching control, freight control, engineering control, carriage and wagons control, signalling and telecom, RPF, Traction Distribution Department (TRD) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system in the division.

While TDR is responsible for maintenance and operation of overhead equipments, power supply installations, substation installations and remote control to supply necessary electric power to train operation, the SCADA system is to meet special requirements of traction system.

Focusing on the passenger facilities, Railway Minister advised that any cancellation of coaching trains is to be announced well in advance, to avoid inconvenience to the passenger.