After Odisha Train Tragedy Railways Orders Countrywide Safety Drive On Signalling, Double-Locking

New Delhi: Days after the deadly train mishap in Odisha which left 275 people dead and  over 1175 injured, the Railways has ordered a week-long countrywide safety drive on signalling systems.

During the safety drive, a special emphasis will be on thorough checking of the existing “double locking” arrangement of its signalling apparatus at railway stations, sources said.

The Railways Ministry has given a directive to ensure that all cabins housing the signalling equipment with station limits are checked and ensured being provided double locking arrangements.

Relay rooms in the stations should be checked and ensured for proper working of double locking arrangement. During the drive, the staff will have to ensure that there is data logging and generation of SMS alerts for opening and closing of doors of relay rooms.

It may be noted that the relay rooms and places from where the signalling apparatus can be controlled are locked with a two-fold locking convention. Both the station master and the signalling staff are needed to open it. This is done to ensure checks and balances in handling the crucial signalling apparatus at every critical point, from the point of view of safety and security.

The double locking system in vogue ensures that an SMS alert goes out to designated officials whenever the lock of the relay room (from where signalling is operated) is opened or closed.

Instruction was also issued to the staff to ensure that the disconnection and re-connection for signalling equipment is done as per laid down norms and procedures.

Though the safety drive of various aspects in the railways is not new, the current exercise is being seen in the backdrop of triple train accident at Bahanaga in Odisha’s Balasore district that killed at least 275 people and left over 1175 injured. While a probe is underway to ascertain the cause, it is suspected that the signalling apparatus may have run into some error, leading to the mishap.