India’s state-owned transporter is witnessing AN new amendment. Railways minister Suresh Prabhu has place in his papers; the railway board is within the method of being restructured following the choice to interchange the chairman of the board. So, is one to assume that the govt. is currently determined to confront and address the challenges of providing for safe rail travel?
Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was freelance India’s 1st railways minister to quit following a train accident. Others together with Madhavrao Scindia, Nitish Kumar and Mamata Banerjee had conjointly offered to resign once similar tragedies. however their resignations weren't accepted by the prime ministers of the amount.
Upon his/her elevation, every railways minister has declared the topic of traveller safety to be the highest priority. however the record of the Indian Railways — significantly in respect of the numbers of traveller deaths — has more and more worsened over the years. Long-pending technology upgrade plans like the installation of Train Collision rejection Systems or the Anti-Collision Devices haven't affected forward. wheeled vehicle (locomotives, coaches or wagons) area unit antiquated; signalling systems area unit obsolete; track renewal targets are insulant behind — and also the transporter is additionally hobbled by the difficulty of underinvestment.
Rail accidents to social media outreach: As Suresh Prabhu offers to quit, some highlights of his stint
Why Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not take away Suresh Prabhu
Railway expenditure as a proportion of transport sector expenditure was placed at fifty six within the Seventh arrange (1985-1990), however reduced to half-hour within the Eleventh arrange (2007-2012). within the last twenty years, the share of the Indian Railways in overall gross domestic product had been static at a hundred and twenty fifth, more reducing to zero.9% in 2012-2013. just in case Mr Prabhu’s resignation is accepted, however can the new railways minister tackle these multiple problems that have an on the spot pertaining to traveller safety?
The question has no straightforward answers, however one truth remains: The NDA government’s quest to produce for a contemporary and economical facility matching world standards is commendable; however antique practices and ways that have served the aim of traveller safety within the past can't be entirely rejected. The railways ought to return to basics and acquire it right.