Railways Sound Alert Over Signal Failures Caused by Cable Cuts

quick Summary

• Ongoing infrastructure progress by Indian Railways has led to frequent cases of signal failures due to cable cuts,posing safety risks.
• The Ministry of Railways issued an alert to general managers across Zonal Railways to implement precautionary measures.
• Major projects under execution include automatic block signaling, double-line setups, fencing for high-speed trains, adn installation of the Kavach train protection system.
• Signal failures caused by cable damage may lead to “catastrophic consequences,” as highlighted in the ministry’s alert.
• Contractors responsible for cable damage face penalties up to ₹1 lakh per instance; proper monitoring and adherence to procedures are emphasized.
• Serious accidents like the Odisha Balasore crash involving multiple trains stemmed from signal issues; 296 deaths and over 900 injuries were reported in that incident.
• The Railways spends over ₹1 lakh crore annually on improving safety systems, including initiatives like dashboard displays for engineers during low visibility conditions.

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indian Opinion Analysis

The recurring issue of cable cuts during infrastructure updates emphasizes the operational challenges faced by Indian Railways amidst its push for modernization and enhanced safety protocols. While large-scale projects like automated signaling and Kavach offer long-term solutions, immediate concerns about errors during execution underline a need for stringent monitoring mechanisms across departments involved in these developments.

Notably, incidents such as the catastrophic Balasore accident underscore how critical it is indeed to address these vulnerabilities promptly. Even though penalties on contractors may deter negligence, sustained improvements can likely be achieved only thru stricter supervision and better inter-departmental coordination across zones.

Given india’s commitment of ₹1 lakh crore annually toward rail safety advancements, ensuring effective implementation is crucial not just economically but also in reinforcing public confidence in train travel-a key transportation mode nationwide.

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