To curb mishaps, rlys set up safety review panel

Rattled at the regularity at which train accidents have been happening, railways minister Dinesh Trivedi announced the setting up of a high-powered safety review committee under the chairmanship of former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar on Friday.

Rattled at the regularity at which train accidents have been happening, railways minister Dinesh Trivedi announced the setting up of a high-powered safety review committee under the chairmanship of former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar on Friday.

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Metro man E Sreedharan has been nominated as a member of the committee, which includes N Vedachalam of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Sanjay Dhande of IIT-Kanpur and GP Srivastavas of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

“The committee will conduct a safety audit examining all aspects and submit its report within three months,” Trivedi said. Based on the accidents in the recent past, the committee will examine aspects connected with signalling systems, rolling stock of all types, human resource development with emphasis on training, education and research.

“Safety is an ongoing process. Our first priority is safety and there will be no compromise on it. We are working towards zero tolerance as far as safety is concerned,” Trivedi said.

Responding to reports about the possibility of rail fare hikes, Trivedi said that nothing would be done to “increase the burden” on the common man.