The Indian Railways have perforce to gear up to the challenges of modern day functioning, looking at emerging situations in the country. Issues like integrated security systems in the massive network, providing new toilets that donot soil stations ecdogical balance in forest areas and last but certainly not the least setting up safe and possibly accident proof network that has been the dream of generations of railway men and the nation at large.
In the wake of serial blasts of explosives, most probably by terror groups in Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Delhi, mandarins of Rail Bhawan are contemplating and have given clearance to a Railway Protection Force proposal to work out an integrated security system, at the sensitive railway stations in the country, which to be honest are many.
The Ministry has also realized that it will be essential to buy necessary security equipment and an informal nod has been given for that too. Under this plan the Railway Ministry is going to outsource the installation, operation and maintenance of security equipment including CCTV's X-ray baggage checkers, and metal detectors to competent private companies who will be allowed to advertise on railway land or property for a fixed period of time. Some railway stations are more vulnerable than others will be provided security equipment on a permanent basis after direct purchases. Securing the railway stations may cost upto Rs. 5 crores each. While approximately 150 stations allover the country may need this cover. Insiders in Rail Bhawan point out that Railway Protection Force, which is responsible for the task had been pleading for several months to strengthen security and had been unsuccessful, has found that the bomb blasts have changed the Ministry's perception in a matter of weeks.
Sanitation and cleanliness at railway stations has remained a touchy issue for decades, with no solution in sight, but that may end now with plans to install controlled discharge toilet system in all new coaches to be manufactured by Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala and Integral Coach Factory Perambur. The system ensures that all waste from the toilets is held back in a tank below the toilet seat and discharges only after the train picks up a sped of 30kms per hour. The valves will close once the train halts or reaches a station so that there is no discharge within the station premises.
Another matter of serious concern will be finding an alternative path for building the world's highest bridge over the river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir, because the project was recently scrapped as the gorge in the Himalayas was found to be too unstable to bear the load of the mega steel arch. The government has already spent Rs. 750 crores on the proposed bridge that would link Katra Qazigund section to the present network.
The spreading of railway lines is unfortunately taking a toll on wildlife in areas as disparate as Terai area of Bahraich district in UP and north Bengal. Media have reported that tigers often get killed by trains in the region because of trains crossing the Katarnighat forest reserve. An FIR was lodged against Railway officials by the Forest department on charges of negligence.
Tigers are also becoming victims of the state and national highways that wind through and around the reserves. Tigers are fiercely territorial animals and each tiger can have a territory stretching upto 22 kilometers. To guard their territories, tigers routinely patrol their areas, which may spill out of the reserve and in the process cross railway tracks. While most have fixed speed limits for trains and vehicles at around 30 kms per hour, there is hardly any enforcement. Despite casualties, the issue has neither been tackled at the Central level or by local police. In North Bengal the success of wild-life protection efforts is taking a beating as there is increase in mowing down of animals by trains.
In fact, this has been a recurrent phenomenon and till now no amount of talks between the Railways and Forest department has led to any headway. Most of the cases have been reported from the 100 kms stretch between Siliguri and Alipurduar that passes through Buxa tiger reserve, Jaldapara, Mahananda and Chapramari Wildlife sanctuaries. The spate of accidents began when the railway railway line was converted into a broad gauge one with a rise in the number of trains. Thirty pairs of trains ply in the stretch and the number is all set to rise to 50 pairs in the coming years.
It was recommended that train movements in these corridors be suspended during the night because elephants start moving only after dusk. The Centre had called for imposing a maximum speed limit of 25 kms per hour in these areas. Installation of closed circuit TVs near railway tracks is an option that has to be examined and implemented- no action as yet. As the Railways struggle to improve the services and standards of performance, Railway Minister has given his state what could in Railway parlance be called VIP service. In a booklet published and distributed around Independence Day, it has been said Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav has managed to give Bihar railway projects worth over Rs. 53,200 crores in the last four years- his term as minister in the UPA government. The brochure in Hindi has been distributed only among MPs and MLAs and Mr. Prasad's party Rashtriya Janata Dal and limited copies have been printed. According to the brochure, new production units and workshops are being set up in Maraura, Medhepura, Chhapra, Dalmianagar, Sonpur, Gadhara, Samastipur, and Garkha. Investments have been pumped in 34 new lines in the state, electrification of trains running through Bihar and mega bridges in Patna, Munger and Nimali. Money to be spent on the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor has also been added to this list as it will pass through three districts in the state.
What is good for Bihar would in all probability be good for India, but very obviously, Bihar alone is not India, especially at a time when there are more pressing concerns in the country regarding passenger and goods safety, social and economic obligations of the Railways enhancement of their operations profile.
Shibani Dasgupta, -NPA
Print This Page
Terms
and Conditions