- Lack of safety measures, advice of CAG not heeded

- Occasional

- More Indians than the population of Australia travel daily by rail : Lack of safety on the tracks

The central government seems to have become more furious after handing over the investigation into the Odisha Railway disaster to the CBI. The Railway Department has not taken measures for the safety of passengers and has also ignored the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) report. The CAG in its report emphasized on the maintenance of the track as well as the monitoring system. The CBI has started an investigation, but even when the railway ministry recently held a brainstorming session of railway officials, the officials present emphasized on taking measures for passenger safety instead of launching trains with new modern technology.

No one denies the possibility of vandalism behind the Odisha Railway Accident, but at the same time, no clarification is given about the safety measures taken by the Ministry of Railways. It seems that the government is trying to turn the entire tragedy into a blame game and find out who will make the Holi coconut. There has also been no progress in the investigation into the possibility that someone may have deliberately, manually tampered with the system.

Vandalism is possible on railway tracks, so some miscreants are not afraid to do so. Stones were pelted on the Vandebharat train in many areas. However, the police could not catch a single stone pelter. Railway tracks are soft targets for those planning sabotage. Naxalites used to damage railway tracks and create accidents. They considered uprooting a fish plot as bravery. Passenger cars met with accidents due to fish plates being pulled out.

Even today at many places tourists close the window of the compartment to avoid stone attacks. Bullying is seen in many trains. People traveling with family are afraid, as there is not enough security. According to an estimate, more Indians travel by rail every day than the population of Australia.

Indeed, Indian Railways seems to be going through a recession. After the railway accident that claimed 288 lives in Odisha, minor railway accidents occur almost every day, but they are not considered to be goods trains.

Even ten years ago, thousands of railway gates were unmanned. Many times serious accidents happened on them, hundreds of people died. Today, almost all unmanned crossings have been closed. People living in the slums that have developed on the railway tracks have turned the tracks into public toilets. No government has taken strict measures to remove these slums. People on social networks, sitting as unofficial judges, are trying to give a communal touch to the railway accident at Balasore. Rumors are spreading that the station master is a Muslim and has run away. However, the government has said all the things are false and baseless.

In terms of safety, the performance of Indian Railways is not very commendable as compared to other countries. Emphasis is placed on frequent checking of electronic locking system, track circuit etc. for safety. It has also been said that if any train is coming in front, a shield system should be implemented immediately so that the train stops automatically. Anti-collosion device, field trial actuated warning device is being tested at around 90 railway crossings. A digital machine for ultrasonic flow detection is also being tested, due to which any large obstruction on the railway track can be identified.

Japan, China and Germany use modern technology to prevent high speed train accidents. Shinkansen technology is used in Japan, due to which there has been no major railway accident in the last 55 years.

Whether what happened in Odisha is a man-made mistake or a result of human negligence should be systematically investigated. Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly said that the culprit will not be released, but who is the culprit has not yet been determined.