Question : CORPORATE SAFETY PLAN

(a) whether the Railways have prepared any Corporate Safety Plan;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the progress made so far in implementing the said plan ?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI LALU PRASAD )

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 402 BY S/SHRI SUGRIB SINGH AND KISHANBHAI V. PATEL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03-05-2007 REGARDING CORPORATE SAFETY PLAN.

(a) ( b) &( c) Yes, Sir.

The Corporate Safety Plan formulated and presented to both houses of parliament in Aug`2003 states the objectives, targets and strategies which the Indian Railways would aim to achieve in the decade 2003-2013.

The Plan aims at:-

(i) Reduction in overall consequential train accidents per million train kilometers from 0.44 in 2002-03 to 0.17 in 2012-13.

(ii) Elimination of collisions by extensive use of Anti-Collision Device (ACD) and other measures.

(iii) 60% reduction in derailments by way of timely renewal of assets, improved signalling and interlocking and modernization of flaw detection systems and maintenance practices.

iv) Reduction in fire accidents by adoption of fireproof coaches and use of fire retardant materials in the existing coaches.

(v) Containing the rising trend in level crossing accidents.

(vi) Aiming at reduction in fatalities in case of serious accidents by use of Crash Worthy Coaches and tight lock couplers with anti-climbing features.

The document encompasses the broad priorities and time frame of the safety related works. Efforts are being directed towards continuous reduction in risk level to Railway customers primarily by way of enhancement of asset reliability by their rehabilitation and modernization, alongwith induction of appropriate technologies for prevention and mitigation of train accidents. The plan envisages a total investment of Rs.31, 835 crore (inclusive of the Special Railway Safety Fund [SRSF] amounting to Rs.17, 000 crore) for safety related works during the ten year period.

The progress made so far includes clearing track renewal arrears of 16, 538 Kms, and rehabilitation of 2087 bridges out of 2286 bridges which required rehabilitation. Almost 64,000 of Track kms of track has been brought under mechanized maintenance. Overdue signalling assets have been replaced at 1122 stations out of 1494 stations, track circuiting has been provided at 4047 locations out of 5307 locations. Site acceptance test of Anti Collision Device (ACD) already installed on 1736 kms over NF Rly is in progress and expected to be technically cleared for implementation on rest of the net work. Arrears of replacements of most of over-aged rolling stock have been cleared. Design for crash worthy coaches having anti climbing features has been finalised for all future production. Other works of on going nature including early fire detection, research and development (R&D) for further mechanization of maintenance and monitoring techniques, modernisation of training centres and for improvement of working environ ment of staff are being adequately funded and pursued.

As a result of various initiatives taken under the plan there has been a steady improvement in safety performance of Indian Railways. Accidents per million train kilometers have come down from 0.44 in 2002-03 to 0.28 in 2005-06.