According to official figures, railways has maintained the best safety record in 2017-2018 fiscal in over five decades. Across the railway network, 73 accidents were reported as of March 30, compared to 104 in the previous fiscal. This has been the lowest in 57 years.
A senior official of the ministry said, “The main reason behind the improvement is track renewal, the railways carried out renewal of 4,405 km of old rails in 2017-2018. This is the highest ever progress of rail renewal and exceeds the target of 4,400 km kept for the year.”
Major Highlights:
– This fiscal also recorded the longest ever distance travelled by trains. In 1960-61, trains had collectively travelled 388.1 million train kilometre. In 2017-2018, trains travelled 1,707.7 million train kilometre.
– In terms of accidents, in 1960-61, the number recorded was 2131 which came down to 840 in 1970-71. In 1980-81, the number was 1,013 and in 1990-91 it was 532. As per the figures, in 2010-11, the accidents reported were 141 and in 2016-17 it was 108.
– The casualty figures have also seen a downfall of 58%. In 2016-17, 607 people were injured or killed in train accidents, in 2017-2018, the number stood at 254.
– Derailments have come down from 78 in 2016-2017 to 54 in 2017-2018. Accidents at level crossings stood at 13 in 2017-2018 in comparison to 30 in the previous year.
