Continuous
Track Circuiting
Continuous track circuiting enables detection of discontinuities caused by rail/weld
fracture or acts of sabotage. This helps in taking timely precautionary measures and
prevents possible accidents. This will also improve the line capacity and safety at level
crossing gates. The work of track circuiting is being executed within station limits.
Work of continuous track circuiting in block sections on selected sections of A, B and C
routes at a cost of Rs 425 crores is now being proposed in this Budget.
Bridges
For upgrading and modernizing the bridge inspection and management systems, action has
been taken to initiate underwater inspections, computerized non-destructive testing with
state-of-the-art equipment and introduce a modern Bridge Management System.
Crash
worthiness of Coaches
To minimise injuries during rail travel, coaches are being redesigned without any sharp
corners in the interior and duly padding up vulnerable areas. In order to prevent coaches
from climbing over each other in the event of a collision, tight lock couplers are being
introduced progressively. Concurrently, redesigning coach ends to take the full impact of
the collision has been undertaken so that passenger areas remain free from damage due to
collision or heavy impact.
Special
Railway Safety Fund - Financial & Physical progress
During 2001-2002 the actual expenditure under SRSF stood at Rs. 1434 cr (Net) as against
the allotment of Rs 1400 cr. The safety surcharge fell short of the targeted collection by
Rs.95 cr. Thus, the additional amount of Rs.129 cr required on both these counts was made
available through Railways normal revenues.
In the current year, the total net allocation for SRSF was stepped up to Rs. 2210 cr as
per the Budget Estimates, which included Rs. 1350 cr as contribution from General
Exchequer and Rs 860 cr from the safety surcharge. This has been further increased by
Rs.100 cr. in the Revised Estimates to keep up the pace of progress of safety works under
SRSF.
Railways are contributing this additional amount as well as the current years shortfall of
about Rs.200 cr. in surcharge collection from its own revenues.
As regards the physical progress of the works, I would like to inform that track Renewal
of around 5,400 km is also expected to be completed by the end of the current year.
Rehabilitation of approximately 745 bridges is likely to be completed by the end of the
current financial year. So far signalling equipment replacement works have been completed
at 298 stations. Further, about 1350 track circuits have been provided till now. |
