The article published in the editorial section of The Hindu Newspaper talks about the Kavaraipettai Train Tragedy. On October 11, a passenger train crashed into a stationary goods train in Kavaraipettai, near Chennai. The impact was strong enough to flip 13 train cars and cause one of them to catch fire. Thankfully, no one was killed, but several people were hurt. This incident raises concerns, especially since there have been several railway accidents lately, highlighting the unsafe conditions of trains and the infrastructure that supports them, as well as the safety of passengers and cargo.
In this case, officials explained that the passenger train had received a green signal to enter the main track but accidentally ended up on a loop track, colliding with the goods train. The Indian Railways has a safety system called ‘Kavach’ designed to prevent such accidents. The government could roll this out across the railway network in about ten years using just 2% of its yearly budget for new projects. However, the benefits of this system won’t be seen immediately. The reasons for the accident suggest that railway safety is still a big concern. Therefore, making the ‘Kavach’ system more widespread and upgrading existing safety signals should be a national priority, but it won’t fix everything by itself.
Delays in improving safety may come from various issues. For instance, working conditions for train crews, especially locomotive pilots, have been reported as very poor. They often work 12-hour shifts, have inadequate places to rest, and lack basic facilities like toilets on trains. Even with the ‘Kavach’ system in place, maintaining safety will require constant attention. However, if train pilots are distracted by poor working conditions, it makes safety management more challenging.
Additionally, the Railways are experiencing slower revenue growth and are increasingly dependent on government funding for their projects. Most of the cargo they transport is coal, which faces challenges due to growing pressures to reduce carbon emissions. Some busy train routes are running at more than full capacity, which adds more stress to the system. Plus, the Railways have not fully recovered the number of passengers they lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. To enhance safety, the Railways need to tackle all these challenges together instead of addressing them one at a time.
Finally, the government’s response to recent train accidents has included bringing in counter-terrorism investigators. While thorough investigations are essential, this should not distract from addressing the real needs of the Railways. The government needs to be open and transparent about the issues affecting railway safety.
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The Editorial Page of The Hindu is an essential reading for all the students aspiring for UPSC, SSC, PCS, Judiciary etc or any other competitive government exams.
This may also be useful for exams like CUET UG and CUET PG, GATE, GMAT, GRE AND CAT
To read this article in Hindi –https://bhaarat.hellostudent.co.in/