The Indian Railways are upgrading its security measures. Auxiliary warning system, cab-signalling device, centralised traffic control system are some of the state-of-the-art measures that are being considered to enhance safety measures in the country.
"While a decision has been taken to equip the entire rail network with the anti-collision device by 2013, we are trying to acquire advanced safety gadgets for our system to prevent accidents," said a senior railway ministry official involved with introducing safety measures.
The hi-tech safety gadgets like auxiliary warning system, cab-signalling device and CTC system are used in high-speed corridors in the United Kingdom and the United States.
"These devices are quite effective in preventing mishaps on high-speed tracks. Since railways are also going for high-speed corridors, it is necessary to acquire such devices to ensure safety on tracks," said the official.
Railways are holding the International Railway Safety Conference where at least 17 countries, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, Israel, South Korea and Canada will participate. This is for the first time that the IRSC is being held in India. The meet, to be held in Goa next month, will focus on emerging dimension of railway safety with emphasis on advancement of technology and safety management planning.
"Since all the major countries are coming here, we will have a unique opportunity to have an exposure on trends on safety regulation and accident investigation with advanced safety technology," said the official.
Collisions, derailments, fire and accidents at unmanned level crossing are major factors for railway accidents in the country. While collisions constitute seven per cent of accidents, level-crossings accidents constitute 16 per cent of total train mishaps. "Keeping in view the rising number of accidents at unmanned level crossings, it has been decided to man vulnerable level crossings based on the traffic volume and visibility conditions at such places," the official said, adding 447 level crossings have been identified for manning this year.
Railways have also decided to construct over-bridges and subways at 646 level crossings to prevent accidents and decongest traffic at busy sections.
About the anti-collision device, the official said, they were indigenously developed by the Konkan Railway and a pilot project was successfully commissioned on the North East Frontier Railway.
