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Maligaon, July 25 (MExN): NF Railway is replacing worn out assets by upgrading with new one to improve the safety aspects. An amount of Rs 336 crore has been allocated for undertaking safety related modernization works over NFR from the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) fund for the financial year 2023-24, a press release issued by Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer, NFR stated.
RRSK was introduced in 2017-18 for replacement, renewal, upgradation of critical safety assets, with a corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore for five years. From 2017-18 till 2021-22, a gross expenditure of Rs 1.08 lakh crore was incurred on RRSK works.
In Indian Railways, from RRSK fund upto May, 2023, Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation of points and signals have been provided at 6427 stations to eliminate accident due to human failure, 11093 level Crossing Gates interlocked for enhancing safety at LC gates. Complete Track Circuiting provided at 6377 stations. All locomotives are equipped with Vigilance Control Devices to ensure alertness of Loco Pilots.
Retro-reflective sigma boards are provided in electrified territories to warn the crew about the signal ahead when visibility is low due to foggy weather along with a GPS based Fog Safety Device. Modern track structure consisting of 60kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile Strength rails, Prestressed Concrete Sleeper are being used while carrying out primary track renewals, Mechanisation of track laying activity through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc to reduce human errors; Monitoring of track geometry by Oscillation Monitoring System and Track Recording Cars being carried out; Preventive maintenance of railway assets (Coaches & Wagons) is undertaken to ensure safe train operations and to keep a check on Rail Accidents across the country; Replacement of conventional ICF design coaches with LHB design coaches is being done. A total of 31 trains (52 rakes) are replaced by LHB coaches from 2014-23 over NFR.
Steps have been taken to improve fire safety measures. All Power Cars, Pantry Cars and AC coaches are being equipped with suitable fire safety measures in phased manner. Production Units are providing Fire detection and suppression system in newly manufactured Power Cars and Pantry Cars and Fire and Smoke detection system in newly manufactured AC coaches. Progressive fitment of the same in existing coaches is also underway in a phased manner.
Apart from these upgradations in rolling stock design and its components, Indian Railways is also installing wheel impact load detectors, hot box detector etc. in a phased manner. Indigenously developed automatic train protection system “KAVACH” has been adopted as an aid to driver in train running within specified limits and also helps the train running during inclement weather. KAVACH is being provided progressively over Indian Railways.
