HT Poll | Will privatisation make Indian Railways safer?

The train accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur on Monday morning, which killed five people including a Karnataka legislator and injured at least 25 others, was the second fatal railway accident this month. Arguments have been consistently made for its privatisation and against it.

The train accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur on Monday morning, which killed five people including a Karnataka legislator and injured at least 25 others, was the second fatal railway accident this month.

Rescue work in progress at Harda where twin train accidents took place. (file photo/PTI)

The accident occurred when a granite-laden truck rammed into an express train at a level crossing.

Earlier this month, at least 35 people were killed when two trains derailed within minutes of each other while crossing a small bridge near Harda town in Madhya Pradesh.

In 2012, a government report said almost 15,000 people were killed every year on the railways, describing the deaths as an annual “massacre” due mainly to poor safety standards.

The Indian Railways is the fourth largest railway network in the world ferrying more than 23 million passengers every day. Arguments have been consistently made demanding the its privatisation. Critics of the state-owned railways have maintained that the infrastructure is poorly maintained by the government and needs an overhaul.